Catalan aid worker killed in Ukraine awarded Grand Cross of Isabella the Catholic 

Emma Igual, the Catalan aid worker killed in Ukraine in a Russian attack on a humanitarian convoy, was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic by the Spanish government on Tuesday. 

Spokesperson Isabel Rodríguez said the posthumous granting of this recognition, "the most important that can be awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," was to "recognize her work," as well as that of "all Spanish aid workers who work on the ground in particularly difficult situations." 

Spain's foreign affairs minister, José Manuel Albares, had announced on Monday that the honors would be granted, and praised the work done by Igual. 

"Like all Spanish aid workers, not only bringing the best of Spanish solidarity values , but even, as we have unfortunately seen in this case, putting her life at risk to help others." 

Emma Igual, director of the NGO Road to Relief, was killed when she and her team were hit by a Russian attack while traveling in a vehicle in the Bakhmut region, north of Donetsk. 

Her colleague, Canadian volunteer Anthony “Tonko” Ihnat was also killed.