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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
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Kieren Williams

Hero Hobbit star Pasha Lee 'gave his bulletproof vest to child' before being killed

Heroic actor Pasha Lee gave his bulletproof vest to a child before his death, Ukrainian media reports.

It was reported that the actor had been helping children flee a house during an evacuation from the town of Irpen when he died.

When the evacuation was disrupted by Russian shelling, Pasha reportedly took off his own bulletproof vest and gave it to the child he was carrying.

The Ukrainian actor and TV host joined the Territorial Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine after Russia invaded his country on February 24.

However, he died during the second week of conflict, on March 6.

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Pasha Lee quit his career and signed up to defend his country (@pashaleeofficial/Instagram)

Pasha had appeared in several films and his voice also featured in Ukrainian versions of hit films The Lion King and The Hobbit.

In the days before his death, he had been sharing images of himself on social media kitted out in military uniform.

An Instagram post on Saturday translated as: "For the last 48 hours there is an opportunity to sit down and take a picture of how we are being bombed, and we are smiling because we will manage and everything will be UKRAINE WE ARE WORKING !!!"

Another image was captioned: "Let’s unite!"

Ukrainian actor Pasha Lee (@avalaina/Twitter)

Pasha also presented on the DOM TV channel and starred in the 2019 comedy ‘Meeting of Classmates’ and 2017’s ‘The Fight Rules’.

The head of the UATV/DOM Platform, Julia Ostrovsk, said Pasha was the "most joyful and sunny" of TV presenters.

A Facebook post by Sergiy Tomilenko, President of Ukraine’s National Association of Journalists, confirmed his death.

Tomilenko's post said: "The National Association of Journalists of Ukraine expresses sincere condolences to Paul's family and loved ones.

"Our words of support are the entire team of the DOM channel, which embodies a noble mission of speech for the deoccupation of Donetsk, Luhansk regions and Crimea. True, because of Russia's attack on all Ukraine, the mission is correct.

"Now all journalists are working to de-occupation of the country. For the sake of the world..."

Odesa International Film Festival wrote in a Facebook post: "On March 6, as a result of shelling by Russian occupiers in the Ukrainian city of Irpin, the famous Ukrainian actor Pasha Li was killed. He was 33 years old.

"The artist joined the ranks of the Territorial Defecse Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in order to protect the country from Russian occupiers.

"Pasha Lee was a well-known Ukrainian film and dubbing actor, singer and composer. He played in the theatre "Koleso", starred in films and commercials.

"Among his works in cinema are the films “Shtolnya” (2006) and “Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors” (2013) by Lyubomyr Levytsky, “Zvychayna sprava” by Valentyn Vasyanovych (2012), “The Fight Rules” by Oleksey Shaparev (2016), “‎Meeting of Classmates” by Valentyn Shpakov (2019) and others."

The actor was confirmed dead on March 6 (@pashaleeofficial/Instagram)

Anastasiya Kasilova, one of Pasha's co-stars on Provincial, the 2021 TV drama that was one of his final projects, paid tribute to the actor on Facebook.

"He is an actor, TV presenter, my colleague and a good acquaintance… Never forgive!" she wrote.

Another one of his fellow actors, Evgeny Shekera, described his friend as a “real hero”.

“He was an example of dedication and always an inspiration to me. When he was around I smiled, when we met, he hugged me.

“Pash - I love you. You meant a lot to me and to all people.”

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