Scott Sibley, 36
The first British national killed fighting in the conflict was working as an HGV driver when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Scott Sibley had served in Afghanistan as part of the Royal Logistic Corps and when he heard news of the war, decided he wanted to use his military experience to help. Sibley, who has three children, died in a drone strike two months later. “Scott would do anything to help anyone,” his mother, Mary Sibley, told an inquest into her son’s death. “He had a good heart, and was a good person.”
Jordan Gatley, 24
“Jordan always wanted to be a soldier from a young age and never deterred from this when he grew up,” said his mother, Sally Gatley. Having joined the Edinburgh-based 3rd Battalion of the Rifles at the age of 18, Gatley was true to his ambitions. He travelled to Ukraine in March 2022 to fight alongside a foreign regiment, but was shot by a Russian sniper while clearing bombed buildings to check for casualties. “The crew then deployed an anti-tank weapon, which they had been taught by Jordan to use the week before,” said Sally Gatley. “They felt he had saved their lives.”
Simon Lingard, 38
Described as “an amazing dad and not just a soldier”, Simon Lingard founded a charity helping people with mental health problems after his time as a paratrooper. Known as Grimmy to friends, Lingard also worked as a landscape gardener and social worker before going into combat in Ukraine. “I can’t put into words how much he is and will be missed,” Lingard’s 17-year-old son, Jackson, said after his death. “But I’m comforted to know that this happened doing what he loved and surrounded by friends. I love you, Dad. I’m so proud of you.”
Chris Parry, 28
In 2022, Chris Parry transformed from a running coach in Cheltenham to a “frontline evacuator” in the Donbas region, driving vans into war zones to rescue stranded civilians. In his time in Ukraine, Parry saved more than 400 people, including children and elderly people. “I take each day as it comes,” Parry said in an interview from the frontline. “Sometimes, when you see terrible things, it does stay with you. Maybe my luck might run out. But it’s worth it to save these people, I think.”
Andrew Bagshaw, 47
A former scientific researcher in New Zealand, Andrew Bagshaw died alongside Chris Parry, evacuating hundreds of vulnerable people in eastern Ukraine. The pair were attempting to rescue an elderly woman when their vehicles were bombed. “We’re very, very proud of him,” Bagshaw’s mother, Sue, said. “We’re really proud of the fact he was his own man, he didn’t compare himself with anyone, he just did what he thought was right.”
Jay Morais, 52
Bristolian Jay Morais was a fitness enthusiast who would cycle 20 miles a day to work as a sales manager before trading that career for fighting on the frontline. Previous combat experience with the French Foreign Legion meant Morais felt he could contribute to the fight against Russia. “Jay was a very special guy: beautiful and crazy at the same time,” said his Ukrainian girlfriend, Lidiya Martynova. “He would always say that it wasn’t important how many enemies he’d killed, but how many people he’d saved.”
Jordan Chadwick, 31
Growing up in Burnley, Jordan Chadwick aspired to be a soldier and joined the army at a young age. He served as a Scots guard in the British army from 2011 to 2015 and travelled to Ukraine in October 2022. Eight months later, Lancashire police told his mother, Brenda, that her son had been killed in combat. “A son, brother, grandson, nephew and uncle, who was loved immensely,” she told the inquest into her son’s death. “No words can be found to describe the loss of such a short life.”
Daniel Burke, 36
Wythenshawe-born Daniel Burke was a former soldier who served in Afghanistan and later fought with militant groups against Islamic State in Syria. He went to Ukraine soon after Russia’s invasion and joined another fighting unit, before completing medical training and starting his own humanitarian aid organisation to help those fighting on the frontlines. “Throughout his life, he has assisted those who needed it the most and defended what he believed in, and for this we are so very proud of the person that he became,” Burke’s brother, Kevin, said.
Samuel Newey, 22
Samuel Newey was studying psychology at the University of Birmingham when the war started. The 22-year-old from Solihull died fighting alongside Burke’s unit in eastern Ukraine. “Sam, you gave your life for people you never knew and acted with courage, morality and honour,” Newey’s brother, Daniel, said in a tribute on social media. “Not only are you my little brother, but you’re an exceptional man, a good soldier and one of the bravest people I ever had the privilege of knowing.”
Christopher Perryman, 38
When Christopher Perryman first visited Ukraine, in spring 2022, he aimed to train soldiers in combat. But a critical shortage of Ukrainian fighters meant Perryman, who had 16 years’ experience in the British army, including tours of Kosovo and Iraq, was compelled into action. Perryman’s sister, Aimee Statt, said: “He died a true hero, fighting a war that was never his to fight. He went to Ukraine to help others, and it cost him his life.”
Peter Fouché, 49
South African-born Peter Fouché was a sniper in an elite Johannesburg police force before moving to London and becoming a taxi driver. He co-founded Project Konstantin in 2022, a charity supplying vehicles, drones, uniforms and food to Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline, and later enlisted in the Ukrainian army. Project Konstantin said after Fouché’s death: “Pete’s unwavering dedication, endless compassion and relentless commitment to Ukraine and her people have left an everlasting impact on the countless lives he touched. His heroism knew no bounds.”
Liam Love, 24
Liam Love lived by the motto: “What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” In England, the 24-year-old had a black belt in taekwondo, would befriend customers in his job delivering newspapers, and volunteered to lead a local Squirrels scouting group. He joined the army cadets as a teenager before joining the Royal Anglian regiment aged 19, where he stayed for four years before travelling to Ukraine to assist the war effort. Love’s father, Michael, said: “He was just a brave soul.”
Callum Tindal-Draper, 22
When Callum Tindal-Draper told his parents he was going to fight in Ukraine, they begged him not to go. His father, Steven Draper, said: “But Callum said: ‘Dad, I’m not frightened of bullies and what’s going on in Ukraine is awful, and someone needs to stand up for these people.’” Tindal-Draper studied at Duchy College, Cornwall, working for the NHS before going to Ukraine. “Twenty-two is a young age,” said his mother, Caroline Tindal, in a tribute. “But you lived and died following your heart, soul and morals. May you rest in peace.”
Jordan Maclachlan, 26
Jordan Maclachlan, from Ardnamurchan in the Highlands, volunteered as a medic soon after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. His family said: “Jordan always believed that he was making a difference and we are all so proud of him helping others. Jordan was a fun-loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and a friend to many and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.” Maclachlan’s shinty team, Ardnamurchan Men’s Camanachd, said he was “a well-loved member of the community and friend to many”.
Jake Waddington, 34
A polyglot from Cambridge, Jake Waddington began his military career in the British army as a member of the Royal Anglian regiment. After an epileptic seizure prevented him being deployed in Afghanistan, he went to Durham University. He travelled to Ukraine in 2022, signing up with the International Legion, but was killed in the first days of 2025 by a Russian drone dropping a grenade. “You were one of the best of us,” his friend Robert Clark said in a tribute. “I’m so proud of you, mate.”
