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| Ukraine aid worker from Devon believed killed in drone strike | Ukraine aid worker from Devon believed killed in drone strike |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Annie Lewis Marffy was excited to be doing something meaningful, her family says | Annie Lewis Marffy was excited to be doing something meaningful, her family says |
| The family of a British aid worker say they are living in limbo after police in Ukraine reported she had been killed in a drone strike. | The family of a British aid worker say they are living in limbo after police in Ukraine reported she had been killed in a drone strike. |
| Annie Lewis Marffy, 69, from Silverton, near Exeter, was killed by a Russian drone in the Donbas region in June, according to a local police report. | Annie Lewis Marffy, 69, from Silverton, near Exeter, was killed by a Russian drone in the Donbas region in June, according to a local police report. |
| Her body has never been recovered and her family say they are in a battle to get a death certificate issued by local authorities or the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Without one, they say they are unable to grieve properly or begin the probate process. | Her body has never been recovered and her family say they are in a battle to get a death certificate issued by local authorities or the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Without one, they say they are unable to grieve properly or begin the probate process. |
| The FCDO said it was supporting the family but it was down to Ukraine authorities to provide a death certificate. | The FCDO said it was supporting the family but it was down to Ukraine authorities to provide a death certificate. |
| Lewis Marffy crossed into Ukraine on 4 June driving a green Toyota RAV4 | Lewis Marffy crossed into Ukraine on 4 June driving a green Toyota RAV4 |
| Ms Lewis Marffy's son Charlie Lewis Marffy said: "She was brave, capable and determined, but we never wanted her to go. We were worried." | Ms Lewis Marffy's son Charlie Lewis Marffy said: "She was brave, capable and determined, but we never wanted her to go. We were worried." |
| His mother had joined a self-funded mission organised by Aid Ukraine, an aid organisation based in the UK. | |
| She left for Poland in late May, driving a green Toyota RAV4 with a former soldier. When he fell ill and returned home, she continued alone, according to messages and calls home. | She left for Poland in late May, driving a green Toyota RAV4 with a former soldier. When he fell ill and returned home, she continued alone, according to messages and calls home. |
| "She was in touch with us every day," said Mr Lewis Marffy, adding he did not blame the group for what happened. | |
| "She spoke to my youngest brother constantly. She was excited, happy to be doing something meaningful." | "She spoke to my youngest brother constantly. She was excited, happy to be doing something meaningful." |
| Annie Lewis Marffy, pictured in a family photo, never showed any fear during her life, says her son | Annie Lewis Marffy, pictured in a family photo, never showed any fear during her life, says her son |
| Ms Lewis Marffy told her family she had crossed into Ukraine on 4 June. | Ms Lewis Marffy told her family she had crossed into Ukraine on 4 June. |
| She texted them on 5 June and spoke to Mr Lewis Marffy on 8 June, but communication with her family stopped after that. | She texted them on 5 June and spoke to Mr Lewis Marffy on 8 June, but communication with her family stopped after that. |
| According to Aid Ukraine founder Katarzyna Bylok, Ms Lewis Marffy had refused to meet volunteers in Lviv for a scheduled handover and insisted on continuing alone to Kramatorsk in the contested Donbas region. | According to Aid Ukraine founder Katarzyna Bylok, Ms Lewis Marffy had refused to meet volunteers in Lviv for a scheduled handover and insisted on continuing alone to Kramatorsk in the contested Donbas region. |
| She declined to share her location or expected arrival time and ignored advice to avoid front line areas, she said. | She declined to share her location or expected arrival time and ignored advice to avoid front line areas, she said. |
| "After that, we were on a wild goose chase for about a week," she said. | "After that, we were on a wild goose chase for about a week," she said. |
| Aid Ukraine said its last communication with Ms Lewis Marffy was on 10 June. | Aid Ukraine said its last communication with Ms Lewis Marffy was on 10 June. |
| Charlie Lewis Marffy says his mother doted on animals at her home | Charlie Lewis Marffy says his mother doted on animals at her home |
| The local police report, by the Kramatorsk District Police Department, names Ms Lewis Marffy and states she sustained "injuries incompatible with life" after a Russian drone strike between 11 and 12 June. | The local police report, by the Kramatorsk District Police Department, names Ms Lewis Marffy and states she sustained "injuries incompatible with life" after a Russian drone strike between 11 and 12 June. |
| It says the body "remains in an area of active hostilities, making it impossible to conduct evacuation measures to transfer the body to the forensic medical examination department". | It says the body "remains in an area of active hostilities, making it impossible to conduct evacuation measures to transfer the body to the forensic medical examination department". |
| Mr Lewis Marffy said: "They're saying she died. Still, there's no body. No possessions. No ID. Nothing." | Mr Lewis Marffy said: "They're saying she died. Still, there's no body. No possessions. No ID. Nothing." |
| The family say they have sent a series of emails and made calls to the FCDO and Ukrainian authorities asking for a death certificate to be issued based on the police report. | The family say they have sent a series of emails and made calls to the FCDO and Ukrainian authorities asking for a death certificate to be issued based on the police report. |
| "I'm dismayed. The Foreign Office has been vague, unhelpful," said Mr Lewis Marffy. | "I'm dismayed. The Foreign Office has been vague, unhelpful," said Mr Lewis Marffy. |
| The family had explored private retrieval options of the body but these were either dangerous or the cost was prohibitive, he said. | The family had explored private retrieval options of the body but these were either dangerous or the cost was prohibitive, he said. |
| According to information received by Aid Ukraine from local police after Ms Lewis Marffy's death, she had driven alone on 11 June onto the Bakhmut highway, dubbed a "kill zone" because of its proximity to the front. | According to information received by Aid Ukraine from local police after Ms Lewis Marffy's death, she had driven alone on 11 June onto the Bakhmut highway, dubbed a "kill zone" because of its proximity to the front. |
| She had parked her car by the roadside when she and the vehicle were destroyed by the drone strike. | She had parked her car by the roadside when she and the vehicle were destroyed by the drone strike. |
| 'Totally fearless' | 'Totally fearless' |
| Mr Lewis Marffy said his widely travelled mother was "was amazing, witty, kind, intelligent, adventurous". | Mr Lewis Marffy said his widely travelled mother was "was amazing, witty, kind, intelligent, adventurous". |
| "She was irreplaceable," he said. "I feel very sad that she's not here anymore but I'm very proud of who she was." | "She was irreplaceable," he said. "I feel very sad that she's not here anymore but I'm very proud of who she was." |
| She made documentaries, helped at soup kitchens and refugee kitchens in Exeter, and doted on animals of which she cared for many at her home, he said. | She made documentaries, helped at soup kitchens and refugee kitchens in Exeter, and doted on animals of which she cared for many at her home, he said. |
| "I never saw her scared, she was totally fearless and maybe that's contributed to her death in some way," he said. | "I never saw her scared, she was totally fearless and maybe that's contributed to her death in some way," he said. |
| "She was a force and it was her decision. We're not looking to blame anyone. | "She was a force and it was her decision. We're not looking to blame anyone. |
| "We just want a bit more information, some kind of resolution." | "We just want a bit more information, some kind of resolution." |
| A FCDO spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who is missing in Ukraine and are in contact with the local authorities." | A FCDO spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who is missing in Ukraine and are in contact with the local authorities." |
| Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. |