A British national has been killed in Ukraine while fighting for Russia, according to reports. Bradley Townsend, 33, died after an attack by a remote-controlled FPV drone in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, with his death on 10 June described as possibly the first fatality of a British citizen fighting for Russia in the conflict.

Townsend left his home in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, earlier this year after telling his family he was going to Romania, the Yorkshire Post reported.

Foreign Office Says It Is In Contact With Family

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said it was aware of reports that a British national had died in Ukraine and that it was in contact with his family.

The confirmation came as Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv for his first foreign trip as UK prime minister.

The visit coincides with the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union.

The FCDO said it advised against all travel to Russia, adding that its ability to provide consular support in these circumstances is severely limited.

Recruitment Video Linked To Russian Account

Details of Townsend’s background and his decision to fight for Russia emerged through a video shared online on 4 April. The clip, uploaded to a Russian recruitment account, showed Townsend alongside Ben Stimson and Aiden Minnis.

Townsend described himself in the video as “a normal working-class lad from Yorkshire”. Filmed by Stimson, with Minnis interviewing him, Townsend discussed leaving the UK to fight in the war.

In the video, he said he believed he probably would not be able to go home and that he expected to face persecution if he returned. He also said he was not on a “suicide mission”, while acknowledging that such outcomes could happen.

The video reflected a wider pattern of foreign involvement on both sides of the war. Stimson, from Oldham, and Minnis, from Wiltshire, are believed to have been the first British nationals to fight for Russian President Vladimir Putin after his full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Both men were reported to have been granted Russian citizenship for fighting in the occupied Donbas region.

Stimson had previously been jailed in the UK in 2015 for joining pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

UK Warnings On Fighting In Ukraine

Townsend’s death was announced by Minnis in a social media post, using Townsend’s call sign, Badger.

The FCDO said its travel advice for Ukraine warns that travelling there to fight or to assist people engaged in the war may amount to offences under UK legislation. It added that a person could be prosecuted on their return to the UK.

It noted that British fatalities during the conflict have previously involved people fighting for Ukraine following Russia’s attacks since 2022.

Townsend is thought to be the second man from Yorkshire to die during the war. The first was 18-year-old James Wilton, from Huddersfield, who was killed in 2024 after volunteering to fight for Ukraine.

The government has also agreed to hand over blueprints for British-made components for the Scalp missile, the French version of the Storm Shadow cruise missile. The move is intended to allow Ukraine to produce the weapon domestically.

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25 August 2026

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Slava Ukraini.

Kind of weird the Russians would trust him.

He could have been a british spy.

At least one Brit who picked the right side.

Ukraine killed an immigrant*? 😎

*A limey who won't post rubbish about how immigrants are ruining his country

20 hours ago, FlorC said:

Kind of weird the Russians would trust him.

He could have been a british spy.

At least one Brit who picked the right side.

You mean the side that sent 2 KGB radioactive nuts

to poison us all ?

How strange ?

38 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

You mean the side that sent 2 KGB radioactive nuts

to poison us all ?

How strange ?

You are commenting on an American, who has expressed a desire in the past to become a Russian citizen, who openly supports the CCP's invasion and subjugation of Taiwan and generally expresses anti-Western sentiments, whilst being robustly defensive of repressive immigration policies. At times, he has expressed support for China and Russia supplying weapons to Iran, once complaining that China should supply more weapons to China. Ordinarily I would assumed he is a national communist, but often his ideas are extremely incoherent.

2 hours ago, Roadsternut said:

You are commenting on an American, who has expressed a desire in the past to become a Russian citizen, who openly supports the CCP's invasion and subjugation of Taiwan and generally expresses anti-Western sentiments, whilst being robustly defensive of repressive immigration policies. At times, he has expressed support for China and Russia supplying weapons to Iran, once complaining that China should supply more weapons to China. Ordinarily I would assumed he is a national communist, but often his ideas are extremely incoherent.

So that is the AI assessment ? Lots of faults in there.

4 hours ago, Roadsternut said:

You are commenting on an American, who has expressed a desire in the past to become a Russian citizen, who openly supports the CCP's invasion and subjugation of Taiwan and generally expresses anti-Western sentiments, whilst being robustly defensive of repressive immigration policies. At times, he has expressed support for China and Russia supplying weapons to Iran, once complaining that China should supply more weapons to China. Ordinarily I would assumed he is a national communist, but often his ideas are extremely incoherent.

No actually a real UK poison case .

Target Sergei Skripal + daughter

Russian double agent

Salisbury ,UK.

March 2018

Deadly Novichuk poison used.

An American meets a Brit in Kyiv. The American asks the Brit where he is from The Brit answers Barnsley.

The America asks the Brit what state is that in and the Brit replies about the same as here.

3 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

No actually a real UK poison case .

Target Sergei Skripal + daughter

Russian double agent

Salisbury ,UK.

March 2018

Deadly Novichuk poison used.

I know all about that. But you are wasting your breath with FloC.

Police officer seriously injured through exposure at crime scene, likely shortened lifespan.

Male civvie seriously injured, through exposure to discarded weapons delivery system, likely shortened lifespan.

Female civvie fatality, through exposure to discarded weapons delivery system.

FlorC is likely laughing at the incident.

8 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

An American meets a Brit in Kyiv. The American asks the Brit where he is from The Brit answers Barnsley.

The America asks the Brit what state is that in and the Brit replies about the same as here.

😂 I tried - really. I did!! - but I couldn't stop myself from laughing at that one😂👏

My condolences to the relatives of the fallen hero. Soviet people will always remember his fight against nazism.

Yorkshire men always were the salt of the earth. Good to see one fight on the side of the Russians, surely a brave and personal choice.

Rest in peace, hero of Russia.

9 hours ago, Roadsternut said:

I know all about that. But you are wasting your breath with FloC.

Police officer seriously injured through exposure at crime scene, likely shortened lifespan.

Male civvie seriously injured, through exposure to discarded weapons delivery system, likely shortened lifespan.

Female civvie fatality, through exposure to discarded weapons delivery system.

FlorC is likely laughing at the incident.

Are you OK ?

2 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

Are you OK ?

Have you had a stroke or TIA? WTF are you wittering on about?