LONDON, England (CNN) -- The 200th British soldier has been killed in hostile action in Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defence announced Sunday, as the country prepared to honor veterans on Remembrance Sunday.

The soldier, from the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, was killed in an explosion in Helmand province, the main British area of operations, in southern Afghanistan.

The soldier's family has been informed, the Ministry of Defence said, and asked for 24 hours before further details are announced.