A Florida man was killed last month in Ukraine, where he was fighting against Russian forces, according to the State Department and a newspaper obituary. He is the second known American killed in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Stephen Zabielski, 52, was killed May 15 in the village of Dorozhniank, according to the obituary that appeared in The Recorder newspaper in Montgomery County, New York. 

Zabielski was a lifelong Montgomery County resident until 2018. He was born in Amsterdam, New York, and lived in Cranesville. He most recently resided in Hernando, Florida, his obituary said.

The State Department confirmed Tuesday that Zabielski had died in Ukraine and that it is in touch with his family to provide consular support and assistance. “Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further,” it said.

Rolling Stone was the first to report on Zabielski’s death Tuesday. According to the magazine, which cited multiple sources familiar with the circumstances of his death, Zabielski was a U.S. Army veteran and killed by a land mine. 

Tristan Nettles, a Marine Corps veteran who was with Zabielski the night he died, told Rolling Stone that Zabielski and another American were ordered to clear enemy mines to create a safe path for their unit’s vehicles during a planned assault the following morning. 

After the men were told to maintain their observation post for another full day, they sought a location they felt would be more suitable, Nettles said. Nettles blames the thick vegetation and heavy fog, in part, for Zabielski triggering a trip wire that set off the mine, which he said also severely injured the other American Zabielski was with.

Zabielski worked 30 years in construction, his obituary said. He is survived by a wife and five stepchildren. 

In April, former U.S. Marine Willy Cancel, 22, became the first American fighting in Ukraine to be killed. 

And last week the State Department said it was aware of reports about three American fighters missing in Ukraine. Two of them — Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh, both from Alabama — were captured by Russian forces.

All five Americans who have been killed or gone missing in Ukraine have been military veterans.

In the early days of the war, Ukraine created a foreign legion military unit. In March, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said more than 20,000 volunteers from 52 countries had expressed their desire to join the fight, although it’s unclear exactly how many foreign soldiers are serving in Ukraine.

The U.S. government has repeatedly warned against Americans joining the fight in Ukraine. 

“We continue to urge in every way we can American citizens not to travel to Ukraine because of the attendant dangers that is posed by Russia’s ongoing aggression,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said last week. “There are many individuals in this country who are well-intentioned and who want to do everything they can to help the people of Ukraine. Of course, we all understand that. There are avenues and ways to channel that energy.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.