Brazilian Model Who Joined Ukrainian Forces As Sniper Killed During Russian Shelling
Thalita do Valle, 39, had previously fought against IS in Iraq.
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.
Twitter
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.
Twitter
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.
Instagram
"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.
A BRAZILIAN model who joined the Ukraine Army as a sniper just three weeks ago has been killed after a Russian missile obliterated her bunker. Thalita do Valle, 39, had previously fought against IS in Iraq.#Ukraine #UkraineWar #UkraineRussianWar #Luhansk #RussiaIsATerroristState pic.twitter.com/sQaF9fvf0W
¡ª Andy (@FightTheBigots) July 6, 2022
As I have written about before, Brazilians have been fighting alongside the Azov Battalion in Donbas since at least 2016. This weekend 2 more Brazilian mercenaries were killed during a Russian missile attack, Douglas Rodrigues B¨²rigo and Thalita do Valle. + pic.twitter.com/FfJk8fGJ4C
¡ª BrianMier (@BrianMteleSUR) July 4, 2022
Russian missiles hit the accommodation they where two Brazilians allied with Ukrainian troops killed in combat yesterday morning in the city of Kharkiv, according to the platoon command's report given away to the families of Douglas B¨²rigo and Thalita do Valle. pic.twitter.com/u1xhioEonb
¡ª Nikolas Yagami???? (@esse_uma) July 3, 2022
Thalita do Valle is the other brazilian mercenary that died in Ukraine(Kharkov) pic.twitter.com/nie5YpCR6t
¡ª Rosa Lux ?? (@luxrosalux) July 3, 2022
?????| Condolences to the family of Thalita Do Valle.
¡ª Terror Alarm (@terror_alarm) July 6, 2022
?????? | it has officially been confirmed that the Brazilian model turned volunteer fighter for #Ukraine was killed last week by Russians in Kharkov, after previously being the sole survivor of a missile strike by Russia. pic.twitter.com/ZAX1zJURLI
Thalita do Valle. https://t.co/vCTOdXiHk1 pic.twitter.com/quIvn2y3XF
¡ª Erick (@Erickgeopolitic) July 4, 2022
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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