A British medic who travelled to the Ukraine to volunteer on the front line has been found dead in her bed after 18 months abroad.
Katherine Mielniczuk, also known as Kasia, travelled to the Ukraine in 2022 in the hope of using her medical skills to aid those in need.
Nicknamed Apache by her friends, the chemistry graduate from the University of Bristol spent two years dodging Putin’s forces as she cared for injured Ukrainian fighters on the most volatile stretch of the frontline.
But her family confirmed the 26-year-old was found dead in her bed on Christmas Eve after “devoting her life to others”.
They said in a statement: “It is impossible to truly convey what an incredible woman Katherine was or how deeply and widely she was loved and will be missed. Kasia is gone, but the endless warmth, love and grace she brought to the world will never be lost.”
In a Facebook post on December 23, a day before her death, Ms Mielniczuk asked her followers to keep Ukrainian volunteers in their thoughts, writing “many of us cannot return home or celebrate Christmas”.
She wrote: “The mental, physical, financial consequences of war are catastrophic and a kind word can hold tremendous power for us when we are losing hope and seeing tragedies daily. We prioritise fighting for a free Ukraine, for a prosperous and fruitful future for Ukrainian children.”
An online fundraiser has so far earned more than £4,000 of £10,000 to repatriate Ms Mielniczuk to the UK. It read: “It is with deep regret we announce the passing away of Katherine ‘Apache’ Mielniczuk. Katherine was discovered in her bed on (24 December 2023), the cause of her death at this stage is not being treated as suspicious.
“Further information will be released later by the authorities. For now, we are focusing on the pain that her family is enduring and we’re trying to appease their suffering by assisting with repatriation costs.”
Several heartbroken friends shared tributes on the page. One wrote: “We knew you from the age of 11. Such a beautiful soul, inside and out. You will be greatly missed, but never forgotten. Always in our hearts, we’ll remember you for your kindness and bravery. Sleep tight beautiful.”
Another added: “Kat, I will forever miss our hours-long phone calls, where I could talk to you about anything and everything, and walking dogs from the animal shelter together. May your soul be at peace, dear friend.”
A third said: “At university you were always someone who I could turn to and looked out for me. I’m really going to miss you.”
A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Ukraine and are in touch with the local authorities.”
