British Aid Worker Believed Killed in Ukraine Drone Strike

Annie Lewis Marffy, a 69-year-old British aid worker from Silverton near Exeter, was reportedly killed by a Russian drone strike in Ukraine's Donbas region in June while on a self-funded mission with Aid Ukraine. According to a local police report, she sustained fatal injuries after parking her green Toyota RAV4 by the roadside, but her body remains unrecovered due to the ongoing conflict in the area, preventing evacuation and forensic examination. Her family is struggling to obtain a death certificate from Ukrainian authorities or the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which is necessary for them to grieve properly and begin the probate process; the FCDO is supporting the family but cannot issue the certificate itself. Aid Ukraine founder Katarzyna Bylok explained that recovery of her remains is impossible due to the active hostilities, and while Ukraine has an expedited process for certifying deaths without recovered remains, it can take six to twelve months, leaving the family in prolonged legal and emotional limbo. Ms. Lewis Marffy had continued alone into the conflict zone despite advice to avoid front-line areas, maintaining contact with family until June 8 before communication ceased. Her son described her as brave and determined, expressing sorrow but no blame toward the aid organization.