A member of the UK armed forces has been killed in a ‘tragic accident’ whilst observing the testing of new defensive capability in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence has said.
The MoD said in a statement that the accident occurred on Tuesday morning away from the front lines of Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s invasion.
The ministry said the man’s family has been notified of his death, adding: ‘Our thoughts are with them at this sad and difficult time’.
Prime minister Keir Starmer said following the announcement of the soldier’s death: ‘My deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of the member of our Armed Forces who sadly lost their life today. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.’
‘Devastated by the death of a UK service personnel in Ukraine,’ said defence minister John Healey. ‘My thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues as they grieve for a loved one. Our hearts go out to them.’
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge, meanwhile said he was ‘deeply saddened to hear the tragic news that a member of the UK Armed Forces died this morning in Ukraine. My sincere condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.’
It is not currently known which service the soldier was in, or whether he was a member of special forces.
The MoD has also not revealed which weapon system was being tested at the time of the soldier’s death.
While it is not known how many British troops are in Ukraine training troops to fight against Vladimir Putin’s invasion, but a leaked American military document suggested 50 members of the UK’s special forces were on the ground in 2023.
A small number of medics have been deployed to Ukraine, alongside personnel who provide security for the UK’s diplomatic presence in the country.
As of September this year, at least 40 Britons have died fighting for Ukraine.
The youngest of these people was 18-year-old James Sibley, who is said to have died just minutes into his first mission in Ukraine in July last year.
Sibley was just 17 when he left the UK to join Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
Meanwhile, the oldest is believed to be James Gerrard Richard Shortt, whose cause of death has still not been disclosed.
In October, Healey said the UK was ready to commit over £100million on sending British troops to Ukraine.
He said Putin was the UK’s ‘number one enemy’, adding that the world was entering a ‘new era of threat’.
The British soldier’s death comes amid Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirming his refusal to cede land to Russia.
‘Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. We, clearly, don’t want to give up anything. That’s what we are fighting for,’ Zelensky told reporters in a WhatsApp chat late Monday.
‘Do we consider ceding any territories? According to the law we don’t have such right,’ he said. ‘According to Ukraine’s law, our constitution, international law, and to be frank, we don’t have a moral right either.’
In an interview with Politico released Tuesday, President Trump again pressed the Ukrainian leader to accept the US proposal that his nation cede territory to Russia, arguing that Moscow retains the ‘upper hand’ in its nearly 4-year-old invasion, and that Zelensky’s government must ‘play ball.’
More to follow.
