British paratrooper died in Ukraine explosion, coroner rules

A British paratrooper died after an explosion while assisting Ukrainian troops in the war with Russia, a coroner has ruled. An inquest into the death of L/Cpl George Hooley found he sustained multiple injuries in the blast on 6 December 2025. Hooley, 28, died in a hospital in Kyiv three days later.

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Senior coroner Darren Salter said he had been given limited evidence about the circumstances of the explosion. He said the death was not suspicious, and the location of the blast remains unknown beyond the fact that it was away from the front line. The inquest was conducted partly in secret this week, reflecting the restricted information available about the incident.

The coroner's report said Hooley had been transferred from at least one other hospital in Ukraine before reaching the capital. In a statement issued in December, the Ministry of Defence described him as an exceptional soldier and an impressive junior leader with extensive operational experience. It said the death was a tragic accident that happened while he was observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability.

Hooley's death is significant because he was the first British service member to die in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The UK government has never disclosed how many service personnel are in Ukraine, but it has acknowledged that a small number are there to support Ukrainian armed forces and provide security to diplomatic personnel. The case also underlines the risks faced by foreign military personnel operating in support roles away from the front line.

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The wider war remains at a stalemate after almost five years, with the front line largely stagnant and both sides failing to make major gains. Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including a large area of Donetsk. Peace negotiations have also stalled, with Kyiv and its European allies accusing President Vladimir Putin of rejecting plans for trilateral talks involving Russia, the United States and Ukraine.

Hooley, from Wallingford in Oxfordshire, joined the Parachute Regiment in June 2016 after training at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick in North Yorkshire. His company commander described him as a born soldier with a rare gift for kindness and time for everyone. What remains unclear is the exact nature of the explosion, where it happened, and whether any further official findings will be published.

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