In December last year, a British paratrooper lost his life during the test flight of a new type of Ukrainian drone.
According to the BBC, the cause of death of this soldier was announced in the UK on October 2nd, local time.
The soldier’s name was George Huli, who was only 28 years old. After an investigation (in some cases conducted secretly) this week, the coroner ruled that he died from an explosion while assisting the Ukrainian army in fighting against Russia.
On December 6th last year, Huli suffered serious injuries due to the explosion. Three days later, he died in a hospital in Kyiv due to his severe injuries. Oxfordshire senior coroner Darren Salter stated that the evidence he received regarding the circumstances and cause of the explosion was “limited,” but the cause of Huli’s death was “unworthy of suspicion.”
The BBC said that the location of the explosion was unclear, and it was only known that it was far from the front line.
Hulley's commander told investigators that shortly after they arrived to join the Ukrainian army, he "heard a loud noise and saw a flash"; he was "backward to the explosion point, unable to see the cause of the explosion, but could determine that the sound of the explosion came from the direction where Hulley was located".
George Hurley - Media in England with Biography Information
The British government has never disclosed the exact number of military personnel stationed in Ukraine. However, it has previously acknowledged that a small number of soldiers are present in Ukraine to support the Ukrainian armed forces and to provide security for diplomats.
Huli is the first British soldier who has died in Ukraine since the Russo-Ukrainian conflict in 2022.
It is worth mentioning that on September 14, the British Ministry of Defence issued a statement stating that a member of the British armed forces died in Ukraine. The statement indicated that the soldier died "in a road traffic accident."
"Russia Today" (RT) mentioned that the UK has always been one of Ukraine's most steadfast supporters, but it only acknowledges a small number of personnel who are formally serving in Ukraine. They claim that these individuals are mainly there to provide security for diplomats and support the Ukrainian military through training, strategic consultation, logistics, and intelligence sharing.
Russia has long refused to describe its role as merely training and support, and has accused the UK of direct involvement in Ukrainian military operations. Russia has stated that British experts helped Ukraine plan attacks, operate advanced Western weapons, prepare for sabotage missions, and coordinate drone strikes against Russian infrastructure.
The Russian side warns that if British military personnel, equipment, and facilities in Ukraine and other places are used to attack Russia, they could be considered legitimate targets. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated in August that Britain's participation in missile strikes against Russia gives Moscow reason to consider Britain as a party to the war, "and bear all consequences thereof."
