A British Man Died Fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Bradley Townsend, a 33-year-old fisher from Barnsley, is believed to be the first British citizen killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine. He died on 10 June 2026 after a drone — an unmanned flying weapon — struck near Lyman, a town in eastern Ukraine. He left Britain in April, telling family he was going to Romania. He had no combat experience and was given Russian citizenship for joining up. His death was widely reported on 25 August.