French Volunteer’s Death in Ukraine Unrecognized Over a Year Later
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French Volunteer's Death in Ukraine Unrecognized Over a Year Later
- Eirik Coursier, a 21-year-old French volunteer fighting for Ukraine, is presumed to have died on May 28, 2025, near Donetsk, but his death has not yet been officially recognized.
- Coursier, an former police officer from Bron, France, had joined an English-speaking unit within the Ukrainian army earlier in 2025.
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More than a year after his presumed death, the family of Eirik Coursier, a 21-year-old French volunteer, is still seeking official recognition and the recovery of his remains from Ukraine. Coursier reportedly died on May 28, 2025, near Donetsk, in the Luhansk Oblast, after being severely wounded by a drone during his first mission with an assault brigade.
Coursier, originally from Bron in the Lyon metropolitan area, had been a police officer in France, even securing events for the Paris Olympics in 2024. He resigned from his position to join the fight in Ukraine, a country he had visited previously and felt a strong connection to. He joined an English-speaking unit integrated into the Ukrainian army in February 2025.
His father, Nicolas Coursier, was informed by the Ukrainian army on May 30, 2025, that his son was officially missing and presumed deceased. Despite this, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in June 2025 that they had no information to confirm his death. Coursier’s parents traveled to Kyiv in July 2025 to provide DNA samples to the police, hoping to facilitate the identification and repatriation of his body.
The presence of foreign volunteers in Ukraine has been a notable aspect of the conflict, with individuals from various countries joining the International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine. While exact numbers are difficult to verify due to ongoing disinformation campaigns, at least 27 French volunteers have been confirmed to have died fighting for Ukraine. These volunteers often cite reasons such as defending European values and a belief in freedom and justice for their involvement.