Family and friends will gather this week to honour a 28-year-old Australian veteran killed clearing landmines in Ukraine.

Nick Parsons was working with UK-based humanitarian group Prevail Together when he suffered fatal injuries near the city of Izyum in eastern Ukraine last month.

The blast also claimed the life of British co-founder Chris Garrett and left a third person critically injured.

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Known affectionately as “Nic” among friends, Parsons was remembered by close mate Lachie Romer as someone who brought light and laughter wherever he went.

“Nic was ... always up for a laugh, always there when you needed him, and someone who made life better just by being in it,” Romer wrote in a fundraiser to support Parsons’ family and help cover funeral expenses.

The campaign has seen an outpouring of support nationwide, raising over $20,000 in its first 15 hours.

“Let’s come together and do this for Nic — for the good times, the laughs, and the memories we’ll never forget,” Romer said.

“Rest easy, legend.

“We’ll miss you forever.”

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 5, at Morleys Funeral Home in Townsville, Queensland,followed by a memorial gathering at the Townsville RSL, where loved ones will share stories and celebrate Nicholas’ life.

Following the tragedy, Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, praised Parsons’ courage and selflessness.

“Demining is one of those areas where your life is 50/50 — you can live or you can die.

“We are very thankful to him and for his courageous work in Ukraine.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also offered his condolences, confirming Parsons had been engaged in humanitarian work and not in combat.

“The situation is extremely dangerous and we continue to strongly advise all Australians not to travel to Ukraine under any circumstances,” Albanese said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently providing consular support to Parsons’ family, while Prevail Together works alongside Ukrainian authorities to investigate the incident.

Meanwhile, in a significant military development, a Ukrainian drone strike destroyed more than 40 Russian bombers deep inside Russian territory on Sunday.

The operation, personally overseen by President Volodymyr Zelensky, reportedly took more than 18 months to plan.

The attack came just one day ahead of new direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, as Russian forces continued to bombard Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones.