A family from Maranhão was going through days of pain after learning that Marine Elton Francisco de Araujo Cardoso (featured image)23 years old, disappeared while fighting in the war between Ukraine and Russia on the 25th of this month.
In the article, Hani’s lawyer Leticia Araujo, the man’s sister, said he traveled to the Eastern European country in May this year. However, he ended up hiding that he was at war from his family, claiming to live in Poland.
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“We knew he was in Ukraine because of DDI, because he sent us messages. Moreover, a friend of his, who was also there, spread some things, including the Brazilian and Ukrainian flags next to them,” the sister explained.
Elton kept in touch with his mother, who lives in Sao Luis, Maranhão (MA), daily. Using the messaging app, he was sending photos in real time and telling us everything was fine. Hahn explained: “Elton spoke to my mother every day or told her when he wouldn’t be able to talk, or when he would be too busy. Despite this, he never confirmed that he was in Ukraine.”
But on November 25, he stopped responding to the family’s attempts to contact him. “On Sunday (11/23) he even sent a personal photo to my mother. On Monday (24) she said good morning and he replied, but on Tuesday (25) he did not return the messages.”
Discovery
Faced with his disappearance, the family, already certain the Marine was at war, became desperate. Elton’s friends, who had been to the country but have now returned, began trying to help. Confirmation of the disappearance came this Monday (1/12).
Military unit A3449 of the Ukrainian Armed Forces sent a message to the Brazilian Embassy in Kiev stating that the Brazilian disappeared on November 25 while on a mission in the town of Stepnohorsk.
“It is with deep regret that Military Unit A3449 informs that Brazilian citizen Mr. de Araujo Cardoso Francisco Elton, born on October 30, 2002, has been missing in action since November 25, 2025, while on a mission in the city of Stepnohorsk. As soon as we receive any update, we will immediately notify the embassy,” the document read.
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Conditional closure.
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The man’s family is grieving and demanding answers from the authorities
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Elton’s dream was to go to war
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Friends help family members get information about the Brazilian’s whereabouts
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He did not inform his family of his presence in Ukraine
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The man was a Marine in Brazil
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The last time Elton responded to a message was on November 24
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Possible death
Although the statement only mentioned the disappearance, the family claims to have received information from third parties, who were in the fighting, that Russian soldiers had shot Elton. Furthermore, there are reports that the Russian army has seized his body.
“They only say he is missing,” Han lamented, “but information from people who were there indicates that he actually died, but the Russians took the body. The consulate says it is providing support, but no one is responding to me.”
According to the sister, the family is looking for information about what to do from now on. He said: “I would like someone to talk to us, to explain to us what to do, because we do not even have the right to my brother’s body. We want to know how we can register his death, what we need to do, where, how, when…”
Armed forces lover
His family describes Elton as an “armed forces lover.” “He was very passionate, always trying to be the best. The messages I get are always the same, that he was the best at what he did, that he taught everyone, and he was always like that… He fought hard for his ideal.”
According to Hain, since joining the forces, Elton has had the goal of working in the war.
“Wherever he went, Elton left a legacy. Everyone who knew him was fascinated by his worldview and his unique friendship, a one-of-a-kind companion.”
Family support
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) stated in the article that the Brazilian government, through the Brazilian embassy in Kiev, was informed by the Ukrainian authorities of the disappearance of the Brazilian citizen during the fighting.
“The embassy provides consular assistance to the citizen’s family members,” the memo concluded.