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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his condolences to the family and loved ones of a “courageous” Australian who died while volunteering to clear landmines in war-torn Ukraine.
SBS News revealed on Monday that Nick Parsons died in a demining incident near Izyum in eastern Ukraine last week.
The 28-year-old was volunteering with humanitarian and mine clearance charity Prevail Together, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offering his “deepest condolences and sympathies” to his family on Monday.
He also issued a warning to Australians considering travel to the war-torn country.
“I do want to remind Australians that Ukraine is a do not travel zone,” he told reporters in Canberra.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko has praised the Australian’s “courageous” work in Ukraine. Source: SBS News
“The situation is extremely dangerous and we continue to strongly advise all Australians not to travel to Ukraine, under any circumstances,” Albanese said.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said the death was “very sad and very unfortunate”.
“I would like to express my condolences to his family members to his friends and relatives here in Australia, it’s very tragic,” he told SBS News.
“He was just a volunteer, but was on a very important mission, a demining mission.”
“We are very thankful to him and for his courageous work in Ukraine,” Myroshnychenko said.
“Demining is one of those areas where your life is 50/50, you know, you can live or you can die, and it’s one of those sharp razors that you walk on, and it’s very dangerous.”
Parsons was one of three people critically injured in the incident. Prevail board member Shaun Pinner posted on X that the organisation’s co-founder, Chris Garrett, had also died as a result of his injuries.
Pinner confirmed to SBS News that an Australian citizen was killed in Ukraine.
“Currently, we are working with local authorities and respective consulates. Our primary role is to get our colleagues home to their families,” he said.
SBS News has been told colleagues referred to Parsons using his call sign ‘Desmond’.
Millions of mines have been placed in battlefields in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion by Russia began in February 2022, the UN said, adding it was “the most dangerous place for unexploded weapons today”.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian killed in Ukraine.
“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” it said in a statement.
Do you know more about this story? Email ewa.staszewska@sbs.com.au
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