The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has named the soldier who died in an accident in Ukraine as 28-year-old Lance Corporal George Hooley of the Parachute Regiment.
News of a fatality of a UK service person in Ukraine was first announced by the MoD in a social media post on 9 December.
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The statement disclosed the then unnamed armed forces member died earlier the same day “while observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability” away from the front lines.
“The family has been informed, and our thoughts are with them at this sad and difficult time,” the MoD statement read.
UK Defence Secretary John Healy posted on 9 December that he was “devastated” by the death of a UK service person.
The UK Government has provided considerable military assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s large-scale invasion of its neighbour in 2022, providing tanks, artillery, and numerous other platforms.
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By GlobalDataIt also developed new air defence capabilities for Ukraine, such as the Gravehawk system.
British forces have provided basic infantry training to Ukrainian personnel for a number of years at sites through the UK, teaching drill such as trench clearing and urban warfare.
When contacted regarding the accident’s potential impact on UK support to Ukraine, an MoD spokesperson told Army Technology that the “Prime Minister has been clear that we will be ready to put troops on the ground following the end of hostilities as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine”.
The UK maintains a small number of military personnel in Ukraine attached to embassy duties, although it was long-thought a separate contingent was in-country in an advisory role.
Editor’s note: First published on 9 December, this story was updated on 10 December to include additional details.
