Key facts
- British paratrooper L/Cpl George Hooley died from injuries sustained in an explosion on December 6, 2025.
- Hooley died in a Kyiv hospital three days after the explosion.
- The Ministry of Defence described the incident as a tragic accident.
- Hooley was observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability at the time.
- The location of the explosion was away from the front line.
- Hooley was an exceptional soldier with extensive operational experience.
A British paratrooper, L/Cpl George Hooley, died from injuries sustained in an explosion on December 6, 2025, while assisting Ukrainian troops, a coroner's inquest has ruled. Hooley, 28, died in a hospital in Kyiv three days later, becoming the first British service member to die in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Senior coroner for Oxfordshire, Darren Salter, stated that limited evidence was provided regarding the circumstances and cause of the explosion, but concluded Hooley's death was not suspicious. The location of the incident is unknown, other than it was away from the front line. Hooley had been transferred from at least one other Ukrainian hospital before his death in the capital.
The Ministry of Defence described Hooley as an "exceptional soldier and an impressive junior leader with extensive operational experience." The MoD characterized the incident as a "tragic accident" that occurred while he was "observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability." Hooley's company commander in the Parachute Regiment remembered him as "a born soldier" with "a deep kindness and genuine time for everyone."
Hooley, from Wallingford in Oxfordshire, joined the Parachute Regiment in June 2016. The UK government has not disclosed the number of its service members in Ukraine, but has acknowledged a small contingent is present to support Ukrainian armed forces and ensure the security of diplomatic personnel. The front line in Ukraine remains largely stagnant after almost five years of war, with Russia controlling approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. Peace negotiations have stalled, with Kyiv and its allies accusing President Vladimir Putin of seeking further territorial gains.