Obituary | The star in a bulletproof vest

Pasha Lee went from Ukrainian screen idol to volunteer

He was killed near the bridge at Irpin on March 6th, aged 33

ON THE VERY day that Russia invaded, February 24th, Pasha Lee left his job and went to enlist with the Territorial Defence Forces of Ukraine. He might well have been recognised as he signed up and took the oath to defend the motherland, because his face was famous. It was bright and handsome, with a quiff of well-gelled black hair and a delicate line of beard, and with an oriental cast from his half-Korean father.

This article appeared in the Obituary section of the print edition under the headline “The star in a bulletproof vest”

The alternative world order

From the March 19th 2022 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from Obituary

David Lynch

David Lynch mesmerised filmgoers with mystery, beauty and horror

America’s strangest and most surreal film-maker died on January 16th, aged 78

Peter Fenwick

Peter Fenwick became the world expert on near-death experiences

The neuropsychiatrist and promoter of “the art of dying” died on November 22nd, aged 89


Author Chiung Yao

Chiung Yao taught the Chinese all about romantic love

The bestselling novelist and screenwriter died on December 4th, aged 86


Jimmy Carter was perhaps the most virtuous of all America’s presidents

The humble peanut farmer who went to the White House died on December 29th, aged 100

Brother Harold Palmer lived alone in the wilds by choice

The Northumbrian hermit died on October 4th, aged 93

Shalom Nagar was picked by lottery to kill Adolf Eichmann

The Israeli prison officer turned ritual slaughterer died on November 26th, aged 88