A British national who provided humanitarian and military support in Ukraine has died on the battlefield, his charity has announced.
Peter Fouche, founder of Project Konstantin, died on June 27 shortly after being “badly injured” while “in combat” against Russian troops, Halyna Zhuk, the commercial director and co-founder of Project Konstantin, said in a video message shared on social media.
The heartbroken charity worker paid tribute to Mr Fouche, saying he “lived like a hero and died like a hero”.
The video published on X was accompanied by a statement, which read: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Pete, our beloved director and founder. There are no words that can do Pete’s life justice. No words or phrases that could ever encapsulate how much he meant to all of us.
“Pete’s unwavering dedication, endless compassion, and relentless commitment to Ukraine and her people have left an everlasting impact on the countless lives he touched.”
Highlighting some of the humanitarian work he did in war-torn Ukraine, the post continued: “His heroism knew no bounds. He was actively involved in saving more than 200 wounded Ukrainian soldiers, evacuating civilians from the most dangerous frontline cities, as well as bringing humanitarian aid to people in those towns and cities.”
Mr Fouche co-founded Project Konstantin in 2022, following the unlawful Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The charity provides Ukrainian soldiers with technical, medical and essential supplies and helps evacuate civilians and troops alike while also delivering aid to conflict zones close to the frontline.
Mr Fouche, whose death “feels like the worst nightmare” to his charity, enlisted as a contracted soldier with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the website of Project Konstantin said.
In a heartfelt tribute to its founder, the charity also said on X: “Pete’s bravery and selflessness in the face of danger were nothing short of extraordinary, and his actions will forever be etched in our hearts. Pete was more than a leader; he was a beacon of hope, a true hero, and a friend to all.”
Mr Fouche is not the first British man to have died on the Ukrainian battlefield. Among the UK nationals who lost their lives in the war-torn country are Samuel Newey, from Solihull, whose family said he was killed while fighting in eastern Ukraine, and Scott Sibley, who died in April last year in Mykolaiv after being hit by a mortar dropped by a drone on his regiment.