The soldier died last year, on December 25, as a result of hostilities, performing his duties as part of the Foreign Legion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and selflessly fighting against the Russian occupying army in Novoyehorivka, Luhansk region, the ministry informed LETA agency.
The Ministry of Defense and the National Armed Forces (NBS) express their deepest condolences to the Platonov family.
Platonov was born in Riga in 1983, grew up in Sala parish of Jēkabpils region. He fell while performing his duties as part of the Foreign Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the age of 41, protecting the freedom of Ukraine, thereby also protecting the freedom of all of Europe and Latvia.
“Edgar was a kind, sincere and always positive person who never lost faith in himself and his principles. He was a loving son, our big, strong and caring brother who always acted from the heart and with conviction. Edgar was not afraid to stand up for his beliefs and did so , which he believed and believed to be right. His courage, selflessness and desire to help others will remain an indelible mark in our hearts choices and with pain we are learning to accept what happened. Edgars will always be with us – alive in our memories and love, which will never fade,” emphasized the family of the fallen volunteer soldier.
The defense industry, on behalf of the Platonov family, asks the media and the public to be understanding and respectful of the Edgar family’s grief and privacy during this difficult time.
At the beginning of the year, the media reported that information had been received from the Ukrainian armed forces about a Latvian national who disappeared without a trace in Ukraine at the end of last year.
Platonov had made the choice to volunteer to join the Ukrainian armed forces in the war against the Russian occupying army.
Platonov has not previously served in the NBS. NBS professional servicemen and national guardsmen who have a contract for service in the armed forces are not allowed to participate in another country’s armed conflict.
With the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced the creation of a special unit – the Foreign Legion. Thousands of volunteers have expressed their desire to join this unit. Several Latvian citizens are currently fighting on the side of Ukraine.
In the autumn of 2023, another volunteer, a former Latvian NBS soldier, Vitalijs Smirnovs, died in a drone attack carried out by Russia in eastern Ukraine in the Donetsk region near the city of Liman.