On the afternoon of November 18, 2021, a corporal with the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) accidentally drowned in Southern France, during a scheduled and supervised military training activity. Despite the intervention of the medical team present on the spot and the rescue services, he was in cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated.

The tragedy occurred in a lake near the commune of Bellegarde, situated close to Nimes , the regiment’s garrison town. The victim was Corporal Ouladzislau Chastakou.

Ouladzislau Chastakou was born on 15 May 1997 in Belarus, Eastern Europe. He joined the Foreign Legion on 6 August 2018, shortly after being preselected for the Olympic swimming team of his country. He passed his four-month basic training and distinguished himself by his motivation and his very good results. After that, he moved to Nimes to serve with the 2e REI in a combat company.

Noted for his human qualities, his endurance and his professionalism, he was promoted to the rank of 1st Class Legionnaire in October 2019. In 2020, he deplyed for four months to Senegal in Africa and distinguished himself once again by his remarkable service. Demonstrating real qualities in the field of command, he was appointed corporal in January 2021 and then underwent advanced military course to become a paramedic, a function in which he was immediately involved. Having also participated twice in 2019 and 2021 in the Sentinel operation on the national territory, Corporal Ouladzislau Chastakou was decorated with the Medal for the Military Protection of the Territory and the National Defence Medal, bronze level.

Corporal Ouladzislau Chastakou, 24 years old, was a legionnaire of great quality and an excellent comrade. Rest in peace.