Australian bomb disposal volunteer killed while working with charity that clears landmines in Ukraine
Nick Parsons died last week after suffering significant injuries near the city of Izyum in the country's east.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Australian Nick Parsons killed in Ukraine.
Exactly what happened is still under investigation, but he was working with UK-based charity Prevail Together as a bomb disposal expert at the time.
Parsons was among three people critically injured, with Prevail's British co-founder, Chris Garrett, also dying from his injuries.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered his 'deepest condolences and sympathies' to the Australian's family.
'I can confirm he wasn't a participant in the conflict. He was volunteering with a humanitarian organisation and so I do want to remind Australians that Ukraine is a do-not-travel zone,' Albanese said.
'The situation is extremely dangerous and we continue to strongly advise all Australians not to travel to Ukraine under any circumstances.'
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said Parsons had been taking part in a 'very important' demining mission.
'We are very thankful to him and for his courageous work in Ukraine,' Myroshnychenko told SBS.
'Demining is one of those areas where your life is 50/50, you can live or you can die, and it's one of those sharp razors that you walk on, and it's very dangerous.'
Prevail board member Shaun Pinner said 'our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected'.
A statement on Prevail's website said it is still gathering information on the incident and working with police and military to 'uncover the details'.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing support to the family of an Australian killed in Ukraine.
'We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,' it said.
'Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.'
'We await a ceasefire'
It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Turkey this week.
'We await a ceasefire — this proposal is on the table,' Zelenskyy wrote on X.
'A full and unconditional ceasefire, one that lasts long enough to provide a necessary foundation for diplomacy, could bring peace significantly closer.
'Ukraine has long proposed this, our partners are proposing it, and the whole world is calling for it.
'We await a clear response from Russia. The killings must stop.'
Major European powers have pushed the Russian leader to agree to 30-day ceasefire or face new sanctions.
'President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY,' US president Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.
'At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!'
Putin sent Russia's armed forces into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a conflict that has led to significant casualties.
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