Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
Young Paulista Enlisted via Instagram, Joined the Russian Army in 2025, Lost Contact with Family in July, and Is Listed as Missing; Itamaraty Is Monitoring the Case
Since March 2025, a case involving a Brazilian has begun to gain attention in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Chairon Vitor Sepulvida, aged 23, originally from Diadema, São Paulo, decided to leave Brazil after seeing a military enlistment ad on Instagram. Thus, thousands of kilometers away from home, the young man flew to Russia. However, four months later, contact with his family was interrupted. Since then, there have been no more responses. The Itamaraty is monitoring the case through the Brazilian Embassy in Moscow, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Military Experience Caught the Attention of Recruitment
Initially, Chairon had previous military experience, having served in the Brazilian Army. In addition, he had training as a weapons mechanic. For this reason, this technical profile caught the attention of a recruitment channel found on social media. According to family reports, the contract stipulated an assignment as a specialized technician, with training, structure, and integration into the Russian armed forces. To facilitate adaptation, the young man took a language course before his trip. Still, he sent his mother images of documents that would indicate formal affiliation with the Russian Army.
Frequent Contact Gave Way to Reports About the War
With all the preparations completed, the young man flew to Russia in March 2025. In the first months, therefore, contact with his family was frequent. The messages initially demonstrated stability. However, as time went on, the tone changed gradually. According to relatives, Chairon began to report the emotional toll of the conflict. In messages, he described the war as “a hell”. Even so, he stated that he could not give up, as, according to him, desertion would be considered a serious crime by the Russian military forces.
-
He started running at 66 years old, broke records at 82, and is now a subject of study for having a metabolic age comparable to that of a 20-year-old, in a case that is intriguing scientists and inspiring the world.
-
Oldest tree on the planet reappears after 130 years of searches: Wattieza, 385 million years old, was 10 meters tall and had no leaves or seeds; Gilboa fossils in New York solved the mystery in 2007.
-
A 48-square-meter house assembled in hours with 4,000 bricks made of recycled plastic that does not absorb moisture, has natural thermal insulation, and costs less than 90,000 reais in a complete kit.
-
Luciano Hang revealed that Havan’s air fleet has already accumulated more than 20,000 landings, 10,000 flight hours, and 6 million kilometers traveled, and he says that without the planes, the company would never have grown so quickly.
Last Message Preceded His Going to the Front
Later, the last contact occurred on July 15, 2025. In the conversation, Chairon informed that he would go to the front, on a attack mission. After this message, however, he no longer responded to calls or messages. From that moment, the family began to live in a state of uncertainty.
Official Record Indicates Disappearance
With the prolonged silence, the relatives sought official information. According to the mother, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Chairon had presented himself to a battalion on July 30, 2025. However, after this record, he became listed as absent for more than 30 days, with unknown whereabouts, a situation that characterizes disappearance.
Unconfirmed Reports Increased Family’s Anxiety
The situation worsened in December 2025, when relatives received unconfirmed reports that the young man’s name was on a list of war dead. However, no official confirmation has been presented by the Russian authorities. Thus, the young man remains classified as missing.
Itamaraty Highlights Limits of Consular Action
Meanwhile, the Brazilian Embassy in Moscow keeps in touch with the family. The Itamaraty emphasizes that cases involving Brazilians enlisted in foreign armed forces are considered complex, as they involve military contracts, international law, and the extreme conditions of the battlefield. Additionally, due to legal and privacy issues, details of diplomatic action are not disclosed.
Official Alert Advises Against Enlistment Abroad
The case occurs amid an official alert. On July 3, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a statement on the federal government portal advising against the voluntary enlistment of Brazilians in foreign armed forces during international conflicts. In the warning, the agency cited the increase of Brazilians killed in wars abroad and highlighted that consular assistance may be limited, in addition to informing that the Brazilian State is not obligated to cover the return of enlisted citizens.
Family Turns to Social Media in Search of Answers
With no definitive answers, finally, Chairon’s mother started campaigns on social media to raise funds and try to travel to Russia in search of information. Given this scenario, the family continues to await official clarifications about the young man’s whereabouts.
-
-
-
-
4 pessoas reagiram a isso.