Local media reported that a US embassy employee was found dead in the Ukrainian capital.
The body of the unnamed embassy attaché was found on June 25 at the Hilton hotel in Kiev, Strana UA newspaper reported on June 26, citing sources.
US Embassy in Ukraine.
Ukrainian news agency New Voice (NV), also reported that the attache’s body was found at the city’s Hilton hotel on June 25.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller later confirmed the news and said at a press conference on June 25 that this was a government employee working in Kiev.
Miller said: “I hate to repeat this – but I know sometimes conspiracy theories get out of hand – our understanding is that he died of natural causes and there were no signs of foul play.”
“According to medical data provided by the US Embassy, this man suffered from high cholesterol,” a source added. NV said there were no signs of injury on the body and that the hotel room door was closed from the sidein. No autopsy was performed – the body was taken away by the US Embassy.
In March, four anonymous sources told Foreign Policy magazine that the US State Department was planning to deploy about 30 to 40 diplomats to the US Embassy in Kiev to help officials, among them has Ambassador Bridget Brink, more flexibility in traveling within the region. The magazine said about 100 to 200 American diplomats and military personnel were present at the embassy, which has been described as overloaded and understaffed during the war.
The US State Department currently advises citizens not to travel to Ukraine because of the ongoing war and “active armed conflict.”“.
“Those who choose to remain in Ukraine should exercise caution due to the risk of military attacks, crime, civil unrest and refer to the latest security warnings from the Ministry,” The ministry said in its latest travel advisory, updated on May 22, 2023.