The United States confirmed on Tuesday that a second American citizen was killed in action fighting for Ukraine, warning of the risks amid concerns about two other nationals captured fighting Russia’s invasion.
The State Department reported that Stephen Zabielski, 52, died in Ukraine and that he was providing consular assistance to his family.
A newspaper in upstate New York, where Zabielski previously lived, published an obituary that said he died on May 15 “while fighting in the war in the village of Dorozhnyank, Ukraine.”
We reiterate once again that US citizens should not travel to Ukraine due to the ongoing armed conflict and Russian government security officials targeting US citizens in Ukraine.
A State Department spokesman noted.
The spokesman called on US citizens in Ukraine to “exit immediately if it is safe to do so using any commercial or private ground transportation options available.”
Zabielski is the second American to be killed in combat in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in late February. The first was a 22-year-old former Marine, Willy Joseph Cancel, in late April.
