Overview
- The MoD identified the fallen service member as Lance Corporal George Hooley of the Parachute Regiment.
- He was fatally injured on 9 December while observing a Ukrainian trial of a new defensive capability.
- The ministry said hostile fire is not suspected and confirmed the incident occurred far from active combat.
- An internal MoD investigation is under way, with no details released on the system involved or the location.
- Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey offered condolences, as officials noted this is the first publicly confirmed death of a serving UK soldier in Ukraine since 2022.