Australian volunteer killed in Ukraine war: What is known
Australian volunteer killed near Izyum in Kharkiv region (Getty Images)
A humanitarian aid volunteer from Australia died from injuries sustained in an improvised explosive device blast in a building near Izyum in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, according to The Independent.
As reported by the media outlet, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the death of a citizen of his country following media reports that a charity worker was killed in an explosion of an improved explosive device in a building.
"I can confirm he wasn't a participant in the conflict, he was volunteering with a humanitarian organisation," Albanese said, adding that the government is providing support to the man's family. However, he did not disclose further details about the circumstances of the volunteer's death.
"Out of respect for the family's privacy and consistent with our obligations, there is a limit to what we can say publicly at this time," he added.
Albanese also urged Australians to refrain from traveling to Ukraine during the ongoing war with Russia.
"The situation is extremely dangerous and we continue to strongly advise all Australians not to travel to Ukraine, under any circumstances," the Prime Minister stressed.
According to media reports citing an unnamed military source in Ukraine, the Australian volunteer, whose name has not been disclosed, and his British colleague were killed last week near the city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region after being wounded in an IED explosion inside a building.
The reports indicate that the Australian was working with the US-based Prevail Together organization, which provides support to Ukrainian government agencies in demining operations, as well as delivering medical and humanitarian aid.
"We are still gathering information and working alongside military and police officials to uncover the details," the organization said in a statement.
Foreign nationals killed in the war in Ukraine
Recently, a 20-year-old volunteer from Finland was reported killed or missing in action during fighting in eastern Ukraine.
In January, 19-year-old Polish citizen Filip Antosiak was killed near Pokrovsk. He had left his studies in the UK to volunteer with a Ukrainian drone strike unit.
Austrian volunteer Richard S., 30, was also killed in the Russia–Ukraine war.
Earlier in January, it was reported that 26-year-old Scottish volunteer Jordan MacLachlan, who had been fighting for Ukraine since 2022, had died in combat.
