A Herbert-area man who served in the Canadian military is dead after fighting in the war in Ukraine.
Joseph Hildebrand, 33, grew up working on his family’s farm near Herbert, about 130 kilometres west of Moose Jaw, and served two tours in Afghanistan with the Canadian Forces. He joined a Ukrainian unit this past June as a foreign national to fight against Russia’s invasion of that country.
The Saskatchewanian was the second Canadian known to have died defending the Eastern European country.
According to a Facebook page called “Project Leaflet,” Hildebrand was killed on Nov. 6 near Bakhmut, Ukraine, in the province of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has been heavy since February. The Canadian Forces veteran was one of nine members of his 12-man squad killed during an operation in the embattled city.
“He is now the eighth confirmed foreign national to die in Ukraine in the past week,” the page said. “Other countries of note (include): the U.S., UK, and Argentina.”
The unit came under Russian artillery fire while taking their wounded to a front-line medical clinic, the Globe and Mail (G&M) reported. Hildebrand and one other foreign fighter were killed. His body was later taken to Kyiv.
“(A) source in the International Legion, who knew the Canadian personally, said that on Mr. Hildebrand’s application to join, he had answered the question of why he wanted to fight for Ukraine by saying he believed ‘the whole world needs to stand up against Putin and Russia’s aggression,’” the G&M article said, “and that ‘this is the best way I can support and uphold my morals and beliefs.’”
He also wrote that he had experience in close-quarters combat and had “a high pain tolerance with a calm demeanour.”
Mark Hildebrand, the youngest of Joseph’s three brothers, told the G&M that his sibling was “the bravest man I’ve ever known, but he also had a heart of gold.”
“He’s someone we all wanted to grow old with and trade all the nonsense and stories that come with life,” said Mark. “But we are all so proud of him and what he has done.”
Hildebrand’s cousin, Clayton, says the family was notified of Joseph’s death by some other people in his unit, according to CJME. Clayton said Joseph was a good man with strong values who stood up for what he believed in and felt compelled to help the Ukrainian people.
Global Affairs Canada told The Canadian Press that it was aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in Ukraine but didn’t provide further information.
“We are in contact with local authorities and with the family and are providing consular services,” a government spokeswoman added.
