Pasha Lee dead: Ukrainian film star who quit showbiz to defend country is killed

Ukrainian actor and TV host Pasha Lee has been killed at the age of 33.

The TV personality joined the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine last week, in a bid to defend his country amid the invasion of Russian troops.

Sadly, he was killed on day 12 of the Russian invasion into Ukraine, on March 6, during Russian shelling in Irpin - a town just northwest of Kyiv.

READ MORE:Dad's emotional update as family flea Ukraine

His death was announced by the Odesa International Film Festival on Facebook.

Sergiy Tomilenko, President of Ukraine’s National Union of Journalists, wrote: "The National Association of Journalists of Ukraine express sincere condolences to Paul's family and loved ones.

"Our words of support are the entire team of the DOM channel, which embodies a noble mission of speech for the deoccupation of Donetsk, Luhansk regions and Crimea. True, because of Russia's attack on all Ukraine, the mission is correct.

"Now all journalists are working to de-occupation of the country. For the sake of the world..."

Pasha had been sharing images of himself on social media kitted out in military uniform and his latest Instagram posted by him on Saturday translated as: "For the last 48 hours there is an opportunity to sit down and take a picture of how we are being bombed, and we are smiling because we will manage and everything will be UKRAINE WE ARE WORKING !!!"

Another image had the caption: "Let's unite!"

Just days before he had been posting pictures of himself in the gym, celebrating Valentine’s Day and showcasing his new haircut.

Lee was a well-known film and dubbing actor, singer and composer. He was active in Kyiv’s Koleso theatre and starred in films and commercials.

His film credits include Valentyn Vasyanovych’s The Pit (2006) and Lyubomyr Levytsky’s Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors (2013).

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