Annie Lewis Marffy, 69, was killed in Ukraine by a drone strike – this is a breaking story and is being constantly updated. Please return to this page for the latest updates.
A British mum has been killed in a Russian drone strike while travelling to Ukraine for an aid mission – and her devastated family said they do not have her body.
Annie Lewis Marffy, 69, was killed by a Russian strike while in the Donbas region in June, according to local police. The Brit’s family said they have been living in limbo since because the 69-year-old’s body was never recovered. Annie, from Silverton, near Exeter, told her family she crossed into Ukraine on June 4, texted them on June 5 and spoke to her son on June 8, but then wasn’t heard from again.
Her heartbroken family said they have been battling to get a death certificate issued for Annie and have pleaded to authorities for help. Her loved ones added that they could not grieve her death or start the probate process without the document.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was supporting the family but added that it was down to Ukrainian authorities to issue Annie’s death certificate.
Annie’s devastated son Charlie Lewis Marffy, speaking to the BBC, said his mum travelled to Ukraine on a self-funded mission organised by Aid Ukraine – a charity based in Ukraine.
Charlie said: “She was brave, capable and determined, but we never wanted her to go. We were worried.”
Annie drove to Poland in late May with a former soldier for the aid mission, but he returned home after becoming ill. The 69-year-old carried on her journey into the warzone on her own.
Charlie, who said he does not blame the charity for his mum’s death, added: “She was in touch with us every day. She spoke to my youngest brother constantly. She was excited, happy to be doing something meaningful.” Communication between Annie and her family cut off on June 8.
Aid Ukraine’s founder Katarzyna Bylok said Annie did not meet with other volunteers in Lviv for a scheduled handover but insisted on continuing to Kramatorsk, in the frontline Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
Annie did not share her location or time of arrival to the charity, according to Bylok. Aid Ukraine said they last heard from the Brit on June 10.
The Kramatorsk District Police Department said Annie sustained “injuries incompatible with life” following a drone strike between June 11 and 12, in a police report. The local cops added her body “remains in an area of active hostilities, making it impossible to conduct evacuation measures to transfer the body to the forensic medical examination department”.
Charlie said her devastated family has sent emails and calls to the FCDO and authorities in Ukraine pleading for a death certificate. The son added: “They’re saying she died. Still, there’s no body. No possessions. No ID. Nothing.”
The family said it has explored private retrieval services but the options were either dangerous or too expensive.
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