The family of Annie Lewis Marffy, a 69-year-old British aid volunteer, is facing significant challenges in obtaining a death certificate after she was reportedly killed in a Russian drone strike in Ukraine.
Marffy, who was known for her bravery and determination, had traveled to Ukraine in late May to deliver supplies to the contested Donbas region.
According to the Kramatorsk district police department, her body “remains in an area of active hostilities, making it impossible to conduct evacuation measures” to transfer it to the forensic medical examination department.
The family is now in a state of “red-tape limbo,” according to Katarzyna Bylok, the founder of Aid Ukraine UK, the non-profit organization that arranged Marffy’s mission.
Bylok explained that issuing a death certificate could take months or even years due to the inability to safely recover Marffy’s remains. “It leaves her family in a horrible red-tape limbo,” Bylok said. “They will never get her body. But what they need is the ability to close her affairs. Her sons have their hands tied; they don’t have power of attorney.”
The family has expressed disappointment with the reaction of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the lack of response from the police.
“All the family, the sisters and the sons, have been very disappointed at the reaction of the FCDO and the lack of response from the police,” they said. “After all this time, we haven’t got any report at all from the Ukrainian police.”
The family is desperate to get more information and is seeking assistance from the authorities to obtain a death certificate.
Bylok mentioned that there is an expedited process in Ukraine to certify deaths in cases where remains cannot be recovered, although it still takes six to 12 months.
“There is enough evidence to prove that Annie is dead,” she said. “The procedures stating that you need to have remains or DNA for a death certificate need to be updated.”
This process, however, may provide some relief to the family, allowing them to begin the probate process and manage Marffy’s affairs.
An FCDO spokesperson said, “We are supporting the family of a British woman who is missing in Ukraine and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The FCDO’s response, while acknowledging the family’s situation, has not alleviated their concerns about the bureaucratic hurdles they face in obtaining a death certificate.
Marffy’s son, Charlie Lewis Marffy, described his mother as “brave, capable and determined.” He added that she was “amazing, witty, kind, intelligent, adventurous” and had a strong sense of purpose.
Her decision to continue her mission to deliver supplies to the Ukrainian military in Kramatorsk, despite being advised to hand over the vehicle to Aid Ukraine teams in Lviv, reflects her commitment to her cause.
The family’s situation highlights the complexities and challenges faced by those affected by conflict, particularly when it comes to dealing with the aftermath of a loved one’s death in a war zone.