First Briton killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine
Photo: British soldier (Getty Images)
A 33‑year‑old UK citizen, Bradley Townsend, is believed to be the first Briton to have died fighting on Russia’s side against Ukraine, according to The Times.
Townsend signed a contract with the Russian army and was killed in June near Lyman in the Donetsk region by a kamikaze drone strike.
He lived in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, worked as a fisherman, and had no prior military experience.
In April, the Briton left the United Kingdom and traveled to Russia to join its armed forces.
Why the Briton went to fight for Russia
Shortly before his death, Townsend described himself as an ordinary working-class guy. He explained his decision to go to Donbas by events in the 1980s.
According to him, the miners of Donbas had supported British miners during large-scale strikes at that time. Townsend claimed that Donbas miners donated a month's wages to support striking Yorkshire miners.
The Briton said that he had gone there expecting that he probably would not be able to return home and that, if he did, he would definitely be persecuted. He added that he was not on a suicide mission but understood that it could happen, stressing that it had been his own decision and that nobody had forced him into anything.
In another post, he stated that he wanted to repay that favor.
Briton was killed near Lyman
Townsend's death was reported on social media by another UK citizen, Aiden Minnis, who had also joined the Russian forces.
According to him, Townsend, who went by the call sign "Badger," was killed in action near Lyman.
Minnis said he had spoken with the Briton before he signed the contract and had warned him about the dangers.
According to Minnis, Townsend was determined to help Russia and believed he was fighting for its people.
In the UK, Townsend's decision was called "incredibly foolish"
Conservative MP and former security minister Tom Tugendhat expressed sympathy for the family but criticized Townsend's decision to join the Russian army.
He called the move incredibly foolish and stated that joining the Russian army is a crime, as it commits war crimes.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is providing support to Townsend's family.
The article also notes that since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, several British volunteers have died fighting on Ukraine's side, including Samuel Newey, Simon Lingard, Jordan Gatley, and Scott Sibley.
British humanitarian worker Paul Urey also died in captivity in the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic."
It was reported that more than 5,000 foreigners recruited into the Russian army have already died during assaults.
As is known, Russia is increasingly recruiting men from African countries, as well as North Korea, into its armed forces.
