A British Hero Who Stood With Ukraine
It was hard to hear news of the death of a man we counted as a friend
Only a week ago we had breakfast with Chris, and in March we had a video call with him to discuss how we could best support his work and his NGO Prevail, and what realities on the ground we should consider as we continue to organize training for Ukrainian sappers and deminers. Chris spoke with clarity, precision, and deep conviction. We were struck by his humility, the kindness in his eyes, and his unwavering sense of purpose. It was clear to our entire team that Chris’s work and aspiration wasn’t recognition - he did it because he believed in the mission of saving lives.
Tragically, on May 6, 2025, Chris Garrett was killed by a Russian mine while doing what he had always done - working to help others. Just weeks earlier, a Russian court had sentenced him in absentia to 14.5 years in prison - a hollow and absurd attempt to criminalize a man whose only crime was saving lives.
Having worked in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) in Ukraine for over a decade, Chris was a rare source of knowledge and dedication. He generously shared his time, know-how, and field-tested methods with Ukrainian defenders and first responders to help them survive the life-threatening tasks in clearing mines, disposing ordnance, and dealing with the brutal realities of russian aggression against Ukraine.
Chris first came to Ukraine in 2014. By that time, he had already gained hands-on experience working in Myanmar, where he helped communities to clear landmines along the country’s volatile southern border. In Ukraine, he operated in front-line areas like Mariupol, Shyrokyne, and Pisky until 2018. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Chris returned - arriving on February 27, just days after the first missiles struck, and staying to help where he was needed most.
Since 2022, Chris worked side by side with Ukraine’s Military, Police and Emergency Services. His training complemented the training that state agencies provided during the war to new soldiers and sappers. Chris also worked with Ukrainian specialists on detecting and neutralizing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and navigating complex, heavily mined and contaminated terrain. Through his guidance and training, Chris Garrett helped equip hundreds of Ukrainian sappers with life-saving knowledge. Chris’s contribution was transformational. It is estimated that his teams of volunteer EOD technicians have removed hundreds of thousands of munitions and unexploded items from Ukrainian soil, saving thousands of potential future victims.
Chris did it all as a volunteer, without compensation. In July 2023, Chris and his partner, paramedic Courtney Pollock, co-founded Prevail Together - a humanitarian organization dedicated to:
mine clearance for civilian use, including critical infrastructure;
training to enhance the skills of local personnel and capacity building for local authorities;
casualty evacuations and frontline medical care; and
providing humanitarian aid and technical support to Ukrainian units.
Chris never limited himself to a job description. When missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities, he and his team rushed in to help. Recently, while operating near Kharkiv, they responded to a drone strike that set a building ablaze. As Chris later wrote, they arrived at the scene only to find themselves caught in a second strike - a deliberate Russian “double tap” intended to kill first responders:
“We were only 30 meters from the building when the second drone hit. If it had landed a few meters to the north, the outcome would have been very different. But when someone needs help - we show up.”
That spirit defined Chris. He lived by a simple but powerful code - selfless dedication to saving lives and countering brutal and senseless aggression.
Although we never had the chance to work more directly with Chris, we at Mriya Aid are grateful for his heroic contribution to Ukraine and to humanity. If more people gave just a fraction of what Chris gave to Ukraine, there would be less suffering in this world. Everyone who worked with Chris felt this, and for this reason, he was so widely loved and respected.
Chris is gone, but his impact will never be forgotten.
Rest in holy peace, Hero of Both Nations, and may your soul be honored among St. Michael’s Own. You gave your life in service protecting others. Our bows of respect and condolence to your family and friends.
“No greater gift hath any man than that a man gives up his life for his friends” (John 15-13, KJV).