A second American has been in Ukraine while fighting against Russia’s invasion, the US State Department said Tuesday.
‘We can confirm the death of US citizen Stephen Zabielski in Ukraine,’ a State Department spokesperson said. ‘We have been in touch with the family and have provided all possible consular assistance. Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further.
Zabielski died in mid-May while fighting in the war, according to his obituary published by his family in The Recorder, a newspaper in upstate New York. He was 52.
He died on May 15, while fighting in the Ukrainian village of Dorozhniank.
Zabielski’s death was first reported by . He was reportedly by a landmine in southeastern Ukraine.
The 52-year-old US Army veteran lived in upstate New York until 2018, and had worked in construction for over 30 years. According to his obituary, in his free time he enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding his Harley motorcycle.
Zabielski is survived by his wife and five stepchildren, the obit said.
No other information about Zabielski’s efforts in fighting for Ukraine were immediately available, but US officials again cautioned Americans against traveling to the war-torn nation, noting ‘US citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately if it is safe to do so using any commercial or other privately available ground transportation options.’
Ukrainian officials previously confirmed the death of fighting for Ukraine in late April. Cancel was working with a private military contracting company that paid him to fight against Russian forces attacking Ukraine when he was .
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