BRITISH PARATROOPER DIED IN UKRAINE EXPLOSION, INQUEST RULES

An inquest has found that a British paratrooper died after an explosion while assisting Ukrainian forces in the war with Russia. Darren Salter, senior coroner for Oxfordshire, said L/Cpl George Hooley, from Wallingford in Oxfordshire, suffered multiple injuries in the blast on 6 December 2025 and died three days later in a hospital in Kyiv. The coroner said he had been given limited evidence about the explosion and ruled the death not suspicious, adding that its location remains unknown but was away from the front line. Hooley is the first British service member confirmed to have died in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Part of the inquest was held in secret, the coroner's report noted. The Ministry of Defence described Hooley as "an exceptional soldier and impressive junior leader," calling his death a "tragic accident" while he observed Ukrainian forces testing a new defensive capability. It did not respond to further questions about the circumstances. His company commander in the Parachute Regiment called him "a born soldier" with "a rare gift" for kindness and "genuine time for everyone". He joined the regiment in June 2016 after training at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

The UK government has not disclosed troop numbers in Ukraine, but says a small number support Ukrainian forces and protect diplomatic staff. The war has lasted almost five years, with the front line largely unchanged. Russia is reported to hold about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including much of Donetsk. Peace talks have stalled, with Kyiv and European allies accusing President Vladimir Putin of rejecting three-way negotiations involving Russia, the US and Ukraine and seeking to take more territory.