A member of the UK armed forces was killed in an accident in Ukraine on Tuesday morning, believed to be the first time a serving member of the British military has been killed in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion.
The victim was not immediately named, though the Ministry of Defence said their family had been notified, after an incident that appears to have taken place during a weapons test at a site away from the frontlines.
A spokesperson for the MoD said: “It is with deep regret that we must announce that a member of the UK armed orces died in Ukraine this morning, Tuesday 9 December.
“He was injured in a tragic accident whilst observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability, away from the frontlines.”
British military personnel are present in Ukraine in small numbers in support of the country’s armed forces, and to guard the British embassy, though their presence has been acknowledged only in limited and careful disclosures.
There was no further detail on what had happened, other than to say that the fatal incident was not the result of hostile fire. The MoD said it would not be commenting further on Tuesday.
The prime minister expressed his “deepest sympathy and condolences”. Keir Starmer said on X: “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.”
A Ukrainian memorial produced by the Kyiv war museum has counted that 40 Britons have died defending Ukraine, a higher number than previously thought. None are known to have been serving in the British military at the time of their death.
Starmer has said the UK would be willing to deploy “boots on the ground and planes in the air” as part of a multinational peacekeeping mission in the event of a durable cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, but there is little immediate sign of Russia agreeing to a ceasefire.
In a post on X, the defence secretary, John Healey, said: “Devastated by the death of a UK service person in Ukraine. My thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues as they grieve for a loved one. Our hearts go out to them.”
The shadow defence secretary, James Cartlidge, said: “I am 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.”
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