This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/12/australian-man-killed-in-ukraine-working-humanitarian-organisation-prevail
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Former Australian soldier killed in Ukraine while working for humanitarian organisation | Former Australian soldier killed in Ukraine while working for humanitarian organisation |
(32 minutes later) | |
The 28-year-old died last week from injuries he suffered near the city of Izium in eastern Ukraine, according to reports | |
An Australian man has been killed while working for a humanitarian organisation in Ukraine. | An Australian man has been killed while working for a humanitarian organisation in Ukraine. |
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Monday confirmed the 28-year-old former soldier had died. | The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Monday confirmed the 28-year-old former soldier had died. |
Albanese expressed his “deepest condolences and sympathies” to the man’s family and friends. | Albanese expressed his “deepest condolences and sympathies” to the man’s family and friends. |
He said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) was assisting the man’s family and had advised that he not be named “at this point in time”. | He said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) was assisting the man’s family and had advised that he not be named “at this point in time”. |
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email | |
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email | |
“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,” Albanese said. “I can confirm he wasn’t a participant in the conflict, he was volunteering with a humanitarian organisation.” | “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,” Albanese said. “I can confirm he wasn’t a participant in the conflict, he was volunteering with a humanitarian organisation.” |
Albanese said Ukraine remained a “do not travel zone” and “we continue to strongly advise all Australians not to travel to Ukraine, under any circumstances”. | Albanese said Ukraine remained a “do not travel zone” and “we continue to strongly advise all Australians not to travel to Ukraine, under any circumstances”. |
The ABC reported the man died last week from injuries he suffered near the city of Izium in eastern Ukraine. | |
The man was reportedly working for Prevail, a humanitarian non-government organisation that clears landmines in the war-torn country. | |
Last week, Prevail posted a statement on its Instagram account saying the charity’s founder and chair and other team members had been “severely injured” in an incident near Izium. | |
“We are still gathering information and working alongside military and police officials to uncover the details,” the statement said. | “We are still gathering information and working alongside military and police officials to uncover the details,” the statement said. |
Shaun Pinner, a former British soldier and Prevail board member, posted a statement on X on 7 May that said two of the three people who had been injured had “sadly passed away”. | Shaun Pinner, a former British soldier and Prevail board member, posted a statement on X on 7 May that said two of the three people who had been injured had “sadly passed away”. |
Sign up to Breaking News Australia | |
Get the most important news as it breaks | |
after newsletter promotion | |
Pinner said he could confirm that Prevail’s founder and chair, Chris Garrett, was among those who had died. | |
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected,” he said. “We can’t and will not comment during an ongoing investigation.” | “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected,” he said. “We can’t and will not comment during an ongoing investigation.” |
A fundraiser set up to support Garett’s family, which had raised more than US$46,000 as of Monday, said the veteran was an explosive ordnance disposal expert who died while working to disable an explosive device. | |
A Dfat spokesperson said the department was providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Ukraine. | |
“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” they said. “Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.” | “We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” they said. “Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.” |
Previous version
1
Next version