Britain's military has announced the death of a member of the UK Armed Forces in what officials called a "tragic accident" on Tuesday. The accident happened during a weapons trial conducted by Ukrainian forces, and inside Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence's official statement described that the soldier "was injured in a tragic accident whilst observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability, away from the front lines."

No other related details were released, including about the weapons system involved or the precise location. The description of the system being a "new" defense capability is interesting, however.

"The tragedy occurred during training, and we extend our condolences to the family and loved ones," the statement added, emphasizing that it was not combat related.

The British soldier may have been observing active combat from a distance, as Financial Times suggests:

An MoD spokesperson said the death was not believed to have been caused by hostile fire, and the soldier had been injured “whilst observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability, away from the front lines”. The serviceman, whose name has not been released, died on Tuesday morning. His family has been informed.

While there have over the years of the Ukraine war been reports of British security contractors and volunteers dying while fighting Russia, this marks a rare - and possibly first - known death of an active UK service member in the country.

As The Guardian observes, "A Ukrainian memorial produced by the Kyiv war museum has counted that 40 Britons have died defending Ukraine, a higher number than previously thought. None are known to have been serving in the British military at the time of their death."

According to more from FT:

In July, UK Defence Secretary John Healey told parliament that UK personnel were in Ukraine to scout new security arrangements to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. He said planning included "reconnaissance in Ukraine, led by UK personnel". 

The circumstances of the accident remain unclear, including what was being tested and how the soldier came to be fatally injured. Ukrainian forces have been trialling a range of new defensive technologies — from counter-drone systems to new long-range missiles — as they continue to adapt to evolving battlefield threats.

Britain all the way back closer to the start of the war in 2022 became among the first Western countries to begin hosting Ukrainian troop training programs on its soil. In all probably tens of thousands of Ukrainian have been trained by UK advisers at this point.

As for foreign fighters near the front lines, France has also seen its citizens and foreign legion members go join the fight. At various times the Kremlin has condemned this trend, especially the rise in French mercenaries, and said it won't refrain from actively targeting any combatants on or near the front lines. American volunteers have also been killed - on both sides it turns out.