- Category
- World
US Senator and Staunch Ukraine Ally Lindsey Graham Dies at 71
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
US Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the Republican Party’s leading voices on defense and a longtime advocate of military support for Ukraine, died on July 11 at the age of 71, according to a statement released by his office.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
His death came one day after a visit to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian officials and toured a Ukrainian drone manufacturer.
According to statements published by Graham’s office, the senator died following a “short and sudden illness.” The family requested privacy during what it described as “this incredibly difficult time.”
“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, US Senator Lindsey Graham passed away following a short and sudden illness. Senator Graham’s family appreciates the prayers during this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
US President Donald Trump also paid tribute to Graham in a post on Truth Social.
“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad!”
NBC News later reported that emergency responders were dispatched to Graham’s home in Washington following a cardiac arrest call. Images published by the outlet showed paramedics transporting the 71-year-old senator from the residence on a stretcher.
Graham had served as the Republican senator for South Carolina since 2003 and was among the Senate’s most influential lawmakers on defense and foreign policy. At the time of his death, he chaired the Senate Budget Committee and was seeking a fifth term in office.
The senator had made Ukraine a central focus of his foreign policy agenda since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. He repeatedly called for expanded US military assistance, stronger sanctions against Russia, and closer defense cooperation between Washington and Kyiv.
On July 10, Graham visited Ukraine for what Ukrainian officials described as his tenth trip since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. During the visit, he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and toured the facilities of Ukrainian drone manufacturer SkyFall, where he viewed several domestically developed unmanned systems, including the P1-SUN interceptor drone.
US Senator Lindsey Graham visited Ukrainian drone manufacturer SkyFall to discuss defense tech partnerships.
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) July 11, 2026
🧵 1/3
🔗 https://t.co/qPFGm61OBN pic.twitter.com/xqXJPaoOlm
Speaking during the visit, Graham said it would be “a huge mistake” for the United States not to build a technological partnership with Ukraine in the field of unmanned systems.
According to the Office of the President of Ukraine, Zelenskyy and Graham discussed additional sanctions against Russia, Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities, and air defense cooperation, including previously announced plans to establish licensed Patriot missile production in Ukraine.
Following news of Graham’s death, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk described the senator as a consistent supporter of Ukraine, noting that he had visited Kyiv only days before and continued to advocate for military assistance and sanctions against Russia.
Discuss this article:
-9a7b3a98ed5c506e0b77a6663f5727c5.png)
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")