American volunteer aid worker and a recent friend of mine, Pete Reed was killed on Thursday, February 2, 2023, in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, while evacuating Ukrainian civilians.
Pete was a former US Marine who previously led medic teams in Iraq. Like many of us, Pete decided to go to Ukraine to provide humanitarian aid. A few days ago, Pete called me about our Ed’s Friends Ukraine ambulance fundraiser campaign which we are now running. We discussed the makeshift medical clinics that Pete set up in different front-line areas in eastern Ukraine, and the support he needed for evacuating civilians.
Pete’s old “city style” ambulance was not well-suited for the rough terrain where he went. I know this to be true from our missions to that area during this war. We have been working to raise funding for an off-road casualty evacuation ambulance to replace Pete’s city ambulance.
Three days after we spoke, a shell exploded, killing Pete while he was driving his old ambulance. He was 33. Three others on his team were injured.
Thank you Pete for your service. We will help carry the torch to support Ukrainians.
RIP to a selfless comrade.
Славаa Україні 🇺🇦🇺🇸
