Body of NZer killed in Ukraine in Russian hands, sources say

The body of a New Zealand soldier killed in Ukraine is thought to be in the hands of Russian soldiers, according to a number of sources.
Corporal Dominic Abelen died fighting Russian forces while on leave from the army.
Multiple sources have told RNZ they believe his body is in Russian hands but a spokesperson for Jacinda Ardern's office says they simply don't know if that's true or not.  
They say New Zealand has no officials on the ground in Ukraine.
The Defence Force won't comment and is also refusing to say if it is investigating whether other New Zealand soldiers are fighting there.
Corporal Abelen had not been given permission to enter Ukraine, and he had not told them about his plans. 
The force won't say if it is checking the whereabouts of all of its soldiers on leave.  
It's already admitted it doesn't know how many staff on leave without pay could be in Ukraine.
Corporal Abelen didn't even tell his family he where he was going.
Barrister Christopher Griggs, who served in the navy for 25 years as a legal advisor, says it is Cabinet's decision as to where New Zealand soldiers get deployed.
He says those in uniform must do what they are told, and fighting for another country is a major breach.
He says there would be serious consequences for any New Zealand soldiers found fighting in Ukraine - including possibly time in military prison.
 
Griggs says the Defence Force would never give a soldier permission to fight for another country. 
Former soldier Aaron Wood says Mr Abelen would have known that by going to Ukraine he risked losing his job, or worse.
He says that he went anyway, and it shows the strength of his convictions. 
The Government and the Defence Force are working to bring Corporal Abelen's body back. 
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in New Zealand reiterated a previous statement from Russian Foreign Ministry that it was not responsible for the lives of foreign citizens who take part in what it calls "illegal military activities in Ukraine".