Australian killed after heavy fighting in Ukraine

An Australian citizen has died in Ukraine, with reports suggesting the man was caught in heavy fighting in the east of the country.

An Australian man has been killed in eastern Ukraine during heavy fighting against Russian forces last month.

The man was reportedly an ex-Australian Army member who was killed during an artillery strike in the Avdiivka region, 140km north of Mariupol.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed an Australian had died in Ukraine and they were providing help for the family of the man killed.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Ukraine,” a DFAT spokesperson said.

An Australian has been confirmed dead in Ukraine, with reports suggesting the man was killed during heavy fighting against Russian forces. Picture: Anatolii Stepanov / AFP

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Picture: PMO.\

“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time.”

The spokesperson said that owing to “privacy obligations”, the department could not provide any further comment regarding the man or the incident that led to his death.

Online accounts suggest the Queensland man was assigned to the 59th motorised brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in a unit known as “The Chosen Company”, the ABC reports.

A US Army veteran is believed to have also been killed during the same attack along with a number of other foreign enlisters.

The Australian government has issued a “do not travel” warning for Ukraine as a result of the conflict with Russia.

Originally published as Australian killed after heavy fighting in Ukraine