A British soldier who died in a road traffic accident in Ukraine has been named as Major Paul Wilks, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Major Wilks, 40, was a member of the Intelligence Corps. The incident occurred on Saturday and was not the result of hostile action. The MoD stated the accident happened "away from the front lines."

The MoD described Major Wilks as a "gifted leader who earned the admiration and respect of all those fortunate enough to have served alongside him." He is also described as a "proud family man" and is survived by his wife and two sons.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting paid tribute to the soldier. "Major Wilks served this country with pride and dedication. His loss will be deeply felt by those around him," he said.

Streeting added: "The tributes paid by those who worked with Paul illustrate his exceptional talent and ability, underscored by genuine warmth, compassion and a desire to support others. His loss is a poignant reminder of the enormous sacrifice that our armed forces and their families make in the service of our country."

Major Wilks joined the Intelligence Corps in 2012 and was deployed on multiple operational tours, including to Afghanistan. He was the recipient of two operational service medals and a long service and good conduct medal.

His commanding officer described him as "a man of great intellect, yet he remained a mate to those he served with."

"He spoke often of his love for his wife and two sons, expressing his deep gratitude for the support they provided, which allowed him to serve with such distinction," the commanding officer said. "It is because of that foundation that he was able to meet the challenges of his role, and it is in the course of his devotion to duty that he made the ultimate sacrifice."