Brazilian Model Who Joined Ukrainian Forces As Sniper Killed During Russian Shelling

A former Brazilian model who joined Ukrainian forces as a sniper has been killed during shelling in Ukraine. Her family has confirmed the reports of her death.?A Russian missile strike on June 30 in Kharkiv claimed the life of Thalita do Valle, a 39-year-old former model who had just been in Ukraine for three weeks.

She was pinned down between massive explosions.

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Douglas Burigo, a 40-year-old ex-fighter in the Brazilian army, was also killed while trying to rescue her from a bunker.?

On her YouTube page, the former model, who also went to law school, released videos from her stay in Ukraine, illustrating her prior experience as a combatant against the Islamic State in Iraq.

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While in Iraq, Do Valle received sniper training with the Peshmergas in the independent Kurdistan region. Her brother, Theo Rodrigo Viera, lauded her as a hero who devoted her life to aiding those in desperate need.?

According to the Daily Mail, Viera informed local media that his sister was killed by asphyxia after being trapped in a bunker in Kharkiv during heavy Russian shelling.

"Thalita has always been involved in humanitarian missions with the foreign legion of some country or here in Brazil," Viera said.?

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"She was always moved by the feeling of saving animals and humans. My sister was always peaceful, a genuine progressive. Guns are part of a context, war, but she saved lives, she saved animals."

Do Valle had received sniper training in Ukraine and protected Ukrainian troops against advancing Russian forces.

The Internet came together to console the death of two Brazilian volunteer soldiers who died and included pictures of them from their happier time together.?

She had reportedly survived a previous attack in Kyiv, where she had warned family members that she couldn't say much more since Russian drones were tracking her telephone.

Thalita do Valle, 39, had previously fought against IS in Iraq.

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