Thalita do Valle, a 39-year-old Brazilian model turned sniper, was killed in a Russian missile strike in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine on June 30, 2022. She had joined the Ukrainian forces as a volunteer sniper only three weeks prior to her death. Before fighting in Ukraine, Thalita had combat experience fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and had received sniper training with the Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan region. Alongside her military role, she was also involved in humanitarian missions and had documented her journey and training on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
The missile strike that killed Thalita also claimed the life of Douglas Burigo, a former Brazilian soldier who had come to Ukraine to find her. The attack hit the bunker where they were stationed in Kharkiv, a city that has been heavily targeted during the conflict. Thalita had a background as a model and actress and had studied law before her involvement in combat.
Her death highlights the international volunteers who have joined Ukraine’s defense against Russian forces and the ongoing intense fighting in eastern Ukraine, particularly around the Kharkiv and Donbas regions12345678.
