The member of the UK armed forces who died in a road traffic accident in Ukraine has been named by the Ministry of Defence as Major Paul Wilks.

The 40-year-old died following a collision on Saturday. The MoD stated that the incident took place "away from the front lines", and the BBC understands that it was not the result of hostile action.

Major Wilks joined the Intelligence Corps in 2012 and went on to deploy on multiple operational tours during his military career, including service in Afghanistan. He was awarded two operational service medals alongside a long service and good conduct medal.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting paid tribute, saying: "Major Wilks served this country with pride and dedication. His loss will be deeply felt by those around him."

Mr Streeting added: "The tributes paid by those who worked with Paul illustrate his exceptional talent and ability, underscored by genuine warmth, compassion and a desire to support others. His loss is a poignant reminder of the enormous sacrifice that our armed forces and their families make in the service of our country."

The MoD described Major Wilks as a "proud family man". He is survived by his wife and two sons.

His commanding officer also paid tribute, describing him as "a man of great intellect, yet he remained a mate to those he served with."

The commanding officer added: "He spoke often of his love for his wife and two sons, expressing his deep gratitude for the support they provided, which allowed him to serve with such distinction. It is because of that foundation that he was able to meet the challenges of his role, and it is in the course of his devotion to duty that he made the ultimate sacrifice."

The specific circumstances surrounding the crash have not yet been disclosed, other than the confirmation that it occurred away from front-line areas and did not involve hostile action. I'll continue following this and will update you as more information is confirmed.