Tributes have poured in for the ‘exceptional’ British paratrooper who was killed on duty in Ukraine as he is pictured for the first time.

Lance Corporal George Hooley, 28, of the Parachute Regiment, died in a ‘tragic accident’ whilst observing the testing of new defensive capability in the war-torn country.

The Ministry of Defence this afternoon released a photo of the fallen soldier alongside a heartfelt tribute in which they described L/Cpl Hooley, who was due to be promoted next month, as ‘exceptional’.

In their statement, the government department explained that the accident happened on Tuesday morning, away from the front lines of Ukraine’s defence against the Kremlin’s invasion.

In a touching tribute to the fallen paratrooper, they said: ‘Lance Corporal Hooley was an exceptional solider, and as a result of his performance and potential, was due to promote to Corporal in January 2026.

‘As such, he was trusted with the responsibilities of a Corporal on this, his latest, deployment.

‘Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and members of The Parachute Regiment at this incredibly difficult time.’

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to L/Cpl Hooley during Prime Minister’s Questions, describing the soldier’s life as one ‘full of courage and determination’.

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British paratrooper George Hooley, 28, who was killed on duty in Ukraine has been pictured for the first time

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The Ministry of Defence has named the British soldier killed on duty in Ukraine as 28-year-old Lance Corporal George Hooley

‘He served our country with honour and distinction around the world in the cause of freedom and democracy, including as part of the small number of British personnel in Ukraine.’

The Parachute Regiment is an airborne infantry regiment of the British Army, primarily based at Merville Barracks in Colchester.

It has not been disclosed which battalion of the Parachute Regiment L/Cpl Hooley served in.

The 1st Battalion is under the direction of special forces while other battalions are part of the British Army’s rapid response formation.

The 28-year-old first joined the Army in November 2015, where he completed the well-renowned Pre-Parachute Selection Course.

Here, at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, he completed the course as the ‘P Company Champion’ and emerged as the top of his cohort.

After joining the Parachute Regiment he quickly completed promotion courses, achieving a distinction in both the Parachute Regiment’s Junior Non-Commissioned Officers’ course and Section Commanders’ Battle course.

Meanwhile, The United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles both paid tribute to the UK paratrooper.

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Ukrainian servicemen fire a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) towards Russian troops near the frontline town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region on December 9, 2025

The two defence ministers shared their condolences for L/Cpl Hooley’s family as they stood alongside Defence Secretary John Healey during a statement for the media in Washington DC.

‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to you, and to him and his family, and it is a reflection of the sacrifice and commitment that so many make around the world,’ Mr Hegseth said.

Mr Marles said: ‘Let me start there, and also pass on my condolences to George Hooley’s family. We are all very much thinking of you at this moment.’

Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said yesterday he was ‘deeply saddened to hear the tragic news that a member of the UK Armed Forces died this morning in Ukraine. My sincere condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time’.

While it is not known how many British troops are in Ukraine training troops to fight against Vladimir Putin’s invasion, a leaked American military document suggested 50 members of the UK’s special forces were on the ground in 2023.

A small number of medics have been deployed to Ukraine, alongside personnel who provide security for the UK’s diplomatic presence in the country.

As of September this year, at least 40 Britons have died fighting for Ukraine.

The youngest of these people was 18-year-old James Sibley, who is said to have died just minutes into his first mission in Ukraine in July last year.

Sibley was just 17 when he left the UK to join Ukraine’s fight against Russia.

Meanwhile, the oldest is believed to be James Gerrard Richard Shortt, whose cause of death has still not been disclosed.

In October, Healey said the UK was ready to commit over £100million on sending British troops to Ukraine.

He said Putin was the UK’s ‘number one enemy’, adding that the world was entering a ‘new era of threat’.

The British soldier’s death comes amid Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirming his refusal to cede land to Russia.