Former Defence Minister Ron Mark says if Dominic Abelen's body is with the Russians, it's not pleasant to think about what they could do with it.

The New Zealand soldier was on leave from the Defence Force when killed fighting in Ukraine.

Mr Mark told Heather du Plessis-Allan from reports he's read, Mr Abelen fought like a lion, saving fellow troops and killing some they were fighting against.

Mark says Russia could use the body for propaganda, as a bargaining tool, or to make a political point.

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