Australian soldier fighting alongside Ukrainian forces killed on front line - media reports

This was reported by The Independent with reference to local media, according to Ukrinform.

In an Instagram post on December 19, a man who identified himself as a US Army veteran said that Wilson had decided to stay in Ukraine despite the risks and was killed in combat.

“He chose to stay when it would have been easier to leave. He stood his ground in a place where freedom is paid for with blood,” the post said.

Other posts said that Wilson was from Gosford on the Central Coast of New South Wales and also lived in Brisbane, from where he traveled to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion.

It is noted that the Australian authorities are trying to officially confirm reports that an Australian citizen was killed while fighting alongside Ukrainian troops against Russia.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has received information about the death of an Australian citizen in Ukraine and is awaiting confirmation from local authorities,” a department spokesman said on Thursday.

He added that DFAT officials are providing consular assistance to the man's family and reiterated that “the Australian government currently advises against travel to Ukraine.”

At least eight Australians are believed to have died in the fighting in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began.

As reported by Ukrinform, an Australian volunteer with a humanitarian organization was killed in Ukraine in May last year.