The British soldier who died in Ukraine on Tuesday has been named as L/Cpl George Hooley, 28, of the Parachute regiment.
Keir Starmer told the Commons on Wednesday that Hooley had died in a “tragic accident” away from the frontlines while watching a test of “a new defensive capability” with members of the Ukrainian military.
“His life was full of courage and determination,” Starmer said. “He served our country with honour and distinction around the world in the cause of freedom and democracy, including as part of the small number of British personnel in Ukraine.”
Britain has been coy about acknowledging the presence of its military personnel in Ukraine, a figure not thought to significantly exceed 100, partly because it is reluctant to allow their presence to be exploited by Russia for propaganda purposes.
The UK is preparing to join with France and more than 30 other countries in deploying troops to Ukraine as part of a “coalition of the willing”, intended to act as a stabilisation force in the country when there is a durable ceasefire, though there is no immediate sign that Russia wants to end the war.
Experts said it appeared from official statements that Hooley had been watching a test of UK-supplied defensive equipment, or was witnessing how Ukrainians were learning to use their own kit, before something went disastrously wrong. No other British soldiers are understood to have been injured in the incident.
Britain has been closely co-operating with Ukraine on troop and medical training, and on weapons development. A plan by both countries to jointly develop and manufacture Octopus interceptor drones, designed to knock out incoming Russian Shaheds, was announced in September.
The UK re-opened its defence section in April 2022, shortly after the initial Russian attempt to capture Kyiv was repulsed. The decision was formally announced in July 2023, though the then defence secretary, Ben Wallace, told MPs: “We will not comment on the number of UK personnel in Ukraine, or their locations.”
A leaked US document said in 2023 there were 50 members of UK special forces in the country, while there have been several other references to the presence of the SAS and other British elite forces.
Soldiers from 1 Para, the first battalion, form part of the UK’s special forces, operating in support of the SAS and SBS, while members of 2 and 3 Para are part of the British army’s rapid response formation.
A tribute from the MoD described Hooley as “an exceptional soldier and an impressive junior leader with extensive operational experience”, who had joined the army in November 2015.
Hooley had previously served in Afghanistan, Africa and eastern Europe and he was due to be promoted to corporal in January. As a result, the MoD said he was trusted with the responsibilities of the higher rank on his deployment in Ukraine.
More than 40 Britons have died in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, but Hooley’s death is the first time the death of a British soldier has been publicly acknowledged.
John Healey, the defence secretary, said his thoughts were with Hooley’s family. He said Hooley had “served our country with distinction and professionalism. He was an exceptional soldier who will be very deeply missed.”
