British volunteer military medic found dead in his Kyiv bed

It is reported that Ms Melnichuk has spent the last 18 months volunteering in Ukraine for medical and operational purposes

A British medical specialist is working in Ukraine volunteer She was reportedly found dead in her home in Kiev.

The body of Ekaterina Melnichuk was found in bed on Christmas Eve by members of her unit, the 151st Special Operations Detachment, according to the Ukrainian volunteer organization Project Konstantin «.

Ms Melnychuk, who was 25 and a former chemistry student at the University of Bristol, was said to have been volunteering in Ukraine for the past 18 months for medical and operational purposes.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office did not was able to confirm the identity of the deceased, but stated that it “supports the family of the British woman who died in Ukraine.”

Project Konstantin named the cause of death of Ms. Melnichuk was not considered suspicious, but additional information will be released by the authorities later.

Ms. Melnichuk said her unit's purpose was to help medics on the ground with critical equipment, vehicle repairs and fuel.

In a video posted in July, Ms Melnichuk, known as «Kat», told a journalist that she had worked in the field emergency medicine for six years before becoming a volunteer in Ukraine.

She said she made the decision after “seeing vulnerable children being killed in Kharkov, Izyum and parts of Kiev.”

“If I have at least two arms, two legs and half a brain, it’s my duty to go and help,” she said, standing in a khaki vest with a British flag sewn onto it.

She added: “I’ll stay until it’s probably not safe to be here, or until I need to go back to my brother or my mother. I feel safe and competent in this country.”

Ms. Melnychuk said the goal of her unit, made up of “200 foreigners,” was to help doctors on the ground with critical equipment, repair vehicles funds and fuel.< /p>

Ms. Melnychuk's family released a statement saying: “It is impossible to truly express what an incredible woman Katherine was or how deeply and widely she was loved and will be missed. Kasia is no more, but the endless warmth, love and grace that she brought into the world will never be lost.»