Inquest: Ryan Evans died in Russian missile strike on Ukraine hotel

The inquest of Ryan Evans was formally opened and concluded at Warrington Coroner’s Court this morning, Wednesday.

The Broughton resident, who was born in Wrexham, died aged just 38 on August 24 while in the warn-torn eastern European country.

He was working as a security advisor for news agency Reuters and staying with the reporting crew at Hotel Sapphire, in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, when it was hit by a Russian missile strike.

An inquest was requested by a coroner officer due to an unnatural cause of death, which was given by Ukrainian authorities as ‘damage due to military operation’.

Victoria Davies, area coroner for Cheshire, said: “Given the circumstances, this is an unnatural cause of death.

“I am going to formally open an inquest into the death, and on the basis of the evidence I have before me, I am satisfied I have sufficient evidence to conclude today.”

It was said that a coroner officer has spoken to Mr Evans’ wife, who confirmed that she had no concerns over her husband’s care and treatment.

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Coroner Davies amended slightly the cause of death to multiple injuries caused by military operation, following a missile strike on the hotel he was staying in as part of an ongoing war.

She added: “That concludes the inquest, and I offer my condolences to family and friends.”

Mr Evans, a former British soldier, had been working with Reuters since 2022 and had extensive experience advising journalists on safety in conflict zones, including Ukraine and Israel.

He also worked on coverage of the Paris Olympics and had previously worked as an operations manager for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office in Libya for nine years.

The inquest was opened and concluded at Warrington Coroner's Court

Two Reuters journalists were also injured in the attack, one seriously, with all other members of the crew accounted for and safe.

Touching tributes were shared on social media following his death, including from his wife Kerrie, with whom they shared an 18-month-old son, Logan.

On Facebook, she said: "I cannot even begin to explain how much that man meant to me, how much I adored him with every part of me. He was my best friend and my soul mate, my everything.

"We used to laugh and joke about how he came into my life as a knight in battered armour, because let’s face it, he was in shiny armour once, but he had been through more battles then I can even count.

"He was such a gentle giant. If anyone needed anything ever, he was there. He would always put others first and himself second.

"Ryan leaves behind his little bear, Logan. At just 18 months old, he is the double of Ryan, with all his little characteristics.

"I know he was loved by so many people all over the world, especially the furry kind. There was never a day he wasn't finding a furry animal to hug or stroke and feed up. That man was a crazy cat/dog man through and through.

"No measurement in the world will understand how much he will be missed and how much he’s loved by us all.”

A GoFundMe page set up following the tragic news has already raised more than £27,000, and you can donate by visiting gofundme.com/f/support-kerrie-and-logan-after-ryans-tragic-loss

Reuters said it was ‘devastated’ by the news, adding: “We send our deepest condolences and thoughts to Ryan’s family and loved ones.

“Ryan has helped so many of our journalists cover events around the world. We will miss him terribly.”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he was ‘deeply saddened’ to learn of Mr Evans’ death and offered his ‘sincere condolences’.