The US Department of State confirmed today the death of another US citizen in the Russian-initiated war in Ukraine. A spokesman offered “sincerest condolences” to the family of the deceased but did not immediately name the person who died and made no further comments on the nature of his death.

The victim, however, has been named in a post by his sister on Facebook.

“My brother Jimmy Hill was killed yesterday in Chernihiv, Ukraine,” Cheryl Hill Gordon wrote.

Positive Identification

The dead American was indeed determined to be 68-year-old James Whitney Hill of Driggs, Idaho. This identification was confirmed by Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.

Hill had been trapped in a local hospital in Chernihiv, where his partner, a Ukrainian woman named Irina, was being treated for multiple sclerosis.

Mr. Hill had written the following description of his situation on his Facebook profile:

“Currently with Partner in Chernihiv, Ukraine. The city has been under attack by Russian invaders for 2 weeks trying to live in the moment and be aware of how my behaviors directly impact or influence those around me. Ever-changing, ever learning and ever adjusting…..,” 

Mr. Hill died as the result of Russian combat operations in the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv

Local Russian police have also reported the death of the American after heavy Russian shelling of the northern Ukrainian city. There are conflicting reports on how Mr. Hill may have died.