An American man was killed in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv in a Russian attack as he was waiting in line for food to bring to his sick partner.
Jim Hill was among 10 people in the bread line that were killed on Wednesday, according to Ukrainian officials, per The Washington Post.
Hill's sister, Cheryl Hill Gordon, confirmed his death in a Facebook post on Thursday.
"My brother Jimmy Hill was killed yesterday in Chernihiv, Ukraine. He was waiting in a bread line with several other people when they were gunned down by Russian military snippers. His body was found in the street by the local police," Hill Gordon said.
Hill had been in Chernihiv to take care of his Ukrainian partner, Ira, who has multiple sclerosis, according to CNN. Hill's other sister, Katya, told CNN why he stayed in Ukraine amid the Russian invansion.
"He was not going to leave Ira's side in her condition," Katya Hill said. "Jim was in Ukraine this time because he had gotten medicine from the United States and had found a doctor in Chernihiv that would treat her."
Katya Hill told KARE 11 that her brother had been living in Kyiv since the 1990s. He was born in Minnesota and lived in Idaho for about half the year, and then spent the other half in Ukraine to be with his partner and help take care of her. Hill worked as a lecturer at universities in Kyiv, Warsaw, Poland, and the Czech Republic, per the Washington Post and CNN.
Jim Hill had been providing updates on his Facebook page about the Russian attacks. On March 13 he said: "we are trapped in Chernihiv. They bomb here every night. People discouraged. Food shortages, gas, running water, some electricity..there is a siege here..."
Hill then said on March 14: "We could try a break out tomorrow but Ira's mom doesnt want to. Each day people are killed trying to escape. But bombs falling here at night. Risk either way...I only have wifi a few hours a day.We have enough food for a few days.."
He followed that up on March 15 by saying: "Not allowed to take photos. Spies throughout city. Bombing has intensified noway out."
His last post on Tuesday read: "Intense bombing!still alive. Limited food. Room very cold.ira in intensive care."
Katya Hill told KARE 11 that the U.S. Embassy confirmed the death of her brother, and added that she does not expect to be able to get his body from Ukraine. She intends to do something in his honor in Minnesota, where their parents are buried.
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