A 33-year-old British man fighting for Russia has been killed in Ukraine, according to reports. Bradley Townsend died after a remote-controlled FPV drone attack in the eastern Donetsk region.
Townsend died on June 10, according to reports. His death appears to be the first reported case of a British citizen fighting for Russia who has died during the war in Ukraine.
Yorkshire Man Left UK Earlier This Year
Townsend came from Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Post reported that he left his home earlier this year after telling his family that he planned to travel to Romania.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said it knew about reports of a British national dying in Ukraine. The department also said it remained in contact with Townsend’s family.
Townsend later appeared in a video shared by a Russian recruitment account. In the footage, he described himself as a “normal working-class lad from Yorkshire.”
He also spoke about his decision to leave Britain and join Russian forces. Townsend acknowledged that he might never return home and could face legal consequences if he went back to the UK.
Townsend Appeared in Russian Recruitment Video
The video appeared online on April 4. Townsend featured alongside fellow British nationals Ben Stimson and Aiden Minnis, who reportedly received Russian citizenship after fighting in the occupied Donbas region.
Stimson, who comes from Oldham, and Minnis, from Wiltshire, are believed to have joined Russian forces during the war. Stimson previously received a UK prison sentence in 2015 after joining pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Minnis later announced Townsend’s death on social media. He referred to Townsend by his reported call sign, “Badger.”
UK Warns Citizens Against Fighting in Ukraine
The FCDO advises British citizens against travelling to Russia. The department has also warned that its ability to provide consular assistance in such circumstances remains severely limited.
UK travel advice for Ukraine also warns British nationals against travelling there to fight or assist people involved in the conflict. Such activity could potentially lead to prosecution under UK law.
The government has also continued to support Ukraine. During a visit to Kyiv, UK officials discussed plans to provide blueprints for British-made components used in the Storm Shadow cruise missile. The move would allow Ukraine to produce the weapon domestically.
British Nationals Have Died During the War
Several British nationals have died during the war in Ukraine. Most known cases involved people who travelled to support or fight alongside Ukrainian forces following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Townsend is believed to be the second man from Yorkshire to die while fighting in the conflict. In 2024, 18-year-old James Wilton from Huddersfield was killed after volunteering to fight for Ukraine.
Townsend’s reported death highlights the growing involvement of foreign nationals on both sides of the conflict and the risks faced by those who travel to join the fighting.
