First Brit dies while fighting for Russia in Ukraine: ‘Normal lad from Yorkshire’ is ‘killed by drone’
A British man from Barnsley, Bradley Townsend, has become the first known UK national to die fighting for Russia against Ukraine, killed by a drone strike despite having no prior military experience. The 33-year-old fisherman travelled to Russia in April to join the Russian army, saying he wanted to "repay the favour" to Donbas miners who had supported striking Yorkshire miners in the 1980s, a decision he acknowledged could see him prosecuted if he ever returned home.
Townsend, who used the callsign "Badger", was reportedly killed on 10 June during a "storm operation" in Ukraine's Donetsk region when he was hit by a remote-controlled FPV drone, according to a Russia-linked social media account. Fellow British fighters paid tribute to him online, while Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat condemned his choice to join Russia's forces as "unbelievably stupid" and "criminal" given the war crimes committed during the invasion. Acquaintances described him as a vulnerable "normal guy" who had reportedly struggled with mental health and addiction before being "indoctrinated", and the Foreign Office confirmed it was aware of reports of his death.
- First known Brit killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine war
- Bradley Townsend, 33, died in drone strike near Donetsk
- MP calls his decision "unbelievably stupid" and "criminal"
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Bradley Townsend, a 33-year-old fisherman from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, is reported to have died fighting for Russia's army in Ukraine, the first known British person to be killed doing so. He had no previous military background and travelled to Russia in April, saying he wanted to support the Russian side partly because of historical ties between Yorkshire miners and Donbas miners during the 1980s strikes.
He was reportedly killed in June near Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, one of the areas worst hit by the fighting since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. His death has drawn attention because it is rare, and legally fraught, for a UK citizen to fight for Russia rather than Ukraine, and because British nationals who do so can potentially face prosecution at home.
The case has prompted comment from a British politician and renewed scrutiny of why some foreign nationals choose to join the Russian military, and of the risks and legal consequences involved. UK officials say they are aware of the reports.