A member of the UK armed forces who died in Ukraine has been named as Lance Corporal George Hooley of the Parachute Regiment.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Defense said the 28-year-old was killed in a “tragic accident” while observing Ukrainian forces testing “a new defensive capability, far from the front lines”.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who paid tribute to the paratrooper in the Commons, said: “His life was full of courage and determination.
“He served our country with honor and distinction around the world in the cause of freedom and democracy, including as part of the small number of British personnel in Ukraine.”
Starmer said he had put his name on a record in the Commons “to express our gratitude and respect, and to affirm that his service will never be forgotten”.
Defense Secretary John Healey shared his condolences with the family and colleagues of L/Cpl Hooley.
He wrote on X: “He served our country with distinction. His tragic death reminds us of the courage and commitment with which our outstanding armed forces serve every day.”
The BBC understands that the incident is not believed to have been caused by hostile fire. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has been approached for comment.
It is not known what L/Cpl Hooley’s role was in the country. This is the first time that the presence of parachutes in Ukraine has been confirmed.
The UK government has never disclosed the number of service people in Ukraine, but has previously acknowledged that a small number are there to support the Ukrainian armed forces and provide security for diplomatic staff.
The Parachute Regiment is an airborne infantry regiment of the British Army.
It has not been confirmed in which battalion L/Cpl Hooley served. The first battalion is under the direction of the special forces, while others are part of the rapid response formation of the Army.
It is the first time a UK military death has been publicly announced since February 2022.
The Parachute Regiment said it was mourning the death of the 28-year-old, who joined the British Army in November 2015.
He joined the Regiment in June 2016 after completing his training at the Catterick Infantry Training Center in North Yorkshire, he said in a statement on social media.
Starmer told the Commons he met Ukrainian President Zelensky in Downing Street on Monday, along with French President Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as efforts to negotiate an end to the war intensify.
“We must redouble our efforts,” he told the House.
“The UK, Europe and our allies will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, stand up to Putin’s aggression and work to deliver a just and lasting peace.”
Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch, who also spoke in the Commons, said: “The thoughts of the whole House will rightly be with the family of Lance Corporal Hooley, who died tragically supporting Ukraine in its fight for freedom.”
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In recent weeks, a series of talks have been held to end the war, after interventions by the American President Donald Trump and a range of European leaders.