December 10 (UPI) — A British soldier has died in Ukraine in what the Ministry of Defense in London described as a “tragic accident”.
An unidentified member of the British Armed Forces died on Tuesday morning while “observing Ukrainian troops testing new defense capabilities away from the front lines,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
“We have informed the family and our thoughts are with them at this sad and difficult time.”
Britain did not deploy combat troops in the Ukraine-Russia war, but as a close ally of Kiev, it played a leading support role by providing weapons, military equipment and training to the Ukrainian army.
Little information has been released about the circumstances of the soldier’s death.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement: “My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the families of the members of our armed forces who tragically lost their lives today.”
“Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Defense Secretary John Healey said he was “saddened” by the soldier’s death and sent his thoughts to their family and friends.
“Our hearts go out to them,” he said.
The news comes just a day after Starmer and other key European leaders hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London amid a U.S.-led push to end the war.
