An American man was killed during a Russian attack in Ukraine on Wednesday. James Whitney Hill, known as Jim by friends and family, traveled with his Ukrainian partner, Ira, to Chernihiv in December so that she could receive treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Hill’s identity was confirmed by Anton Gerashenko, an adviser at the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. According to his sister Cheryl Gordon, her brother was killed after going out to buy food as the Russian bombardment of the city intensified.

“We don’t have confirmation from the embassy (that’s) specific to his death, but I do know that as things were deteriorating in the city and the food at the hospital, my brother was the one that was going out to the store to bring back what food he could find,” Jim’s other sister Katya said.

Days before his death, Hill wrote about his situation in Ukraine on his Facebook page.

“We could try a breakout tomorrow, but Ira’s mom doesn’t want to,” he wrote. “Each day, people are killed trying to escape. But bombs falling here at night. Risk either way … I only have wifi a few hours a day. We have enough food for a few days.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed the Minnesota native’s death on Thursday with no further detail.

“We offer our sincerest to the family on their loss,” a State Department spokesperson said. “Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have no further comment.”

Hill is now the second U.S. citizen to die in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion. Filmmaker Brent Renaud was killed when Russian troops opened fire on him and colleagues in the town of Irpin as they were traveling to film refugees on March 13.

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Article by Benedetta Tommaselli

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