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A former US Marine working as a volunteer medic in Ukraine was killed while evacuating civilians from Bakhmut in the east of the country.

Pete Reed, 33, died on February 2 after his ambulance was struck by a missile while he was evacuating people from the besieged city, which has become a focus of Putin‘s efforts.

It happened as another evacuation team near Reed’s came under attack, requiring him to respond and render aid, his wife Alex Potter told the Washington Post.

Reed served two deployments as a Marine rifleman in Afghanistan and started the nonprofit Global Response Medicine with Potter in 2017.

He is one of at least seven Americans to have died in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Pete Reed, 33, died on February 2 after his ambulance was struck by a missile while he was evacuating people from the besieged city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine

Pete Reed, 33, died on February 2 after his ambulance was struck by a missile while he was evacuating people from the besieged city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine

Reed served two deployments as a Marine rifleman in Afghanistan and started the nonprofit Global Response Medicine with his wife in 2017

Reed served two deployments as a Marine rifleman in Afghanistan and started the nonprofit Global Response Medicine with his wife in 2017

‘My husband Pete Reed was killed yesterday in Bakhmut, Ukraine. He was evacuating civilians and responding to those wounded when his ambulance was shelled,’ wrote Potter on social media on Friday.

‘He died doing what he was great at, what gave him life, and what he loved, and apparently by saving a team member with his own body,’ she added.

His death came just a month after an assignment in Ukraine for Global Outreach Doctors where he was serving as its Ukraine Country Director.  

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‘In January, Pete stepped away from GRM to work with Global Outreach Doctors on their Ukraine mission and was killed while rendering aid,’ the NGO said. ‘Pete was the bedrock of GRM, serving as Board President for 4 years.’ 

Reed joined the Marine Corps in September 2007, soon after his 18th birthday. As an infantryman he was deployed twice over the next four years to Afghanistan’s Helmand province, the Washington Post reported.

He was based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and earned a combat action ribbon indicating he came under hostile fire or directly engaged enemy forces. Reed left active duty as a corporal in September 2011 after finishing four years of compulsory service.

According to Global Outreach Doctors his humanitarian career began in 2012 when his home state of New Jersey was struck by Hurricane Sandy.

In 2014 he assisted in the training of 33 Haitian EMTs. After settling temporarily in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, he went to northern Iraq to oversee medical training operations.

Reed's wife Alex Potter (pictured) posted a tribute to her last husband. saying: 'He died doing what he was great at'

Reed’s wife Alex Potter (pictured) posted a tribute to her last husband. saying: ‘He died doing what he was great at’

As an infantryman in the US Marines Reed was deployed twice to Afghanistan's Helmand province. He earned a combat action ribbon indicating he came under hostile fire or directly engaged enemy forces

As an infantryman in the US Marines Reed was deployed twice to Afghanistan’s Helmand province. He earned a combat action ribbon indicating he came under hostile fire or directly engaged enemy forces

Reed treated more than 10,000 trauma patients during the Battle for Mosul, beginning in 2016

Reed treated more than 10,000 trauma patients during the Battle for Mosul, beginning in 2016

Reed married photographer Alex Potter last year. The two founded Global Response Medicine together in 2017

Reed married photographer Alex Potter last year. The two founded Global Response Medicine together in 2017

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Notably, Reed rendered aid during the Battle for Mosul, beginning in 2016, and treated more than 10,000 trauma patients. Since 2017, he participated in Global Response Medicine operations in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Poland.

‘This is a stark reminder of the perils rescue and aid workers face in conflict zones as they serve citizens caught in the crossfire. Pete was just 33 years old, but lived a life in service of others, first as a decorated US Marine and then in humanitarian aid. GRM will strive to honor his legacy and the selfless service he practiced,’ wrote Global Outreach Doctors after his death.

In the ongoing attempts to seize the Bakhmut, Moscow has been throwing thousands of troops at the Ukrainian positions in the city.

Although some analysts say Bakhmut has little military significance, it has become the focal point of both Ukrainian resistance and Moscow’s efforts to regain momentum after significant territorial losses.

The battle is therefore more symbolic than practical and thought to be costing Russia more than 100 troops per day. However, Putin promised the Russian people Donbas would be liberated, and the path to that goal lies in Bakhmut.

Missile remnant is seen after shelling as the Russia-Ukraine War continues, during wintertime in Bakhmut, Ukraine on January 28, 2023

Missile remnant is seen after shelling as the Russia-Ukraine War continues, during wintertime in Bakhmut, Ukraine on January 28, 2023

A damaged car and pile of debris are seen as the Russia-Ukraine War continues in Bakhmut, Ukraine on January 28, 2023

A damaged car and pile of debris are seen as the Russia-Ukraine War continues in Bakhmut, Ukraine on January 28, 2023

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