American Volunteer Fred Grandy Killed in Russian Kyiv Attack

Fred Grandy, a 61-year-old American artist and volunteer from Oregon, was killed during a massive Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv on June 17, 2025. Deeply affected by a shift in U.S. policy under President Donald Trump, who publicly supported Russia and criticized Ukraine, Grandy traveled to Kyiv in late May to assist by clearing rubble and volunteering in the war-torn city. He is believed to be the first American civilian killed in an airstrike on Kyiv, dying from shrapnel wounds amid one of the largest Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital, which killed at least 28 people and caused widespread destruction. Grandy's sister described him as a man determined to help those fighting to save their country and unwilling to abandon them despite the danger. The U.S. State Department confirmed his death and offered support to his family. This incident underscores the ongoing intensification of Russian assaults on Ukraine, which have resulted in over 13,300 civilian casualties according to the United Nations, with the actual toll likely higher.