A British man has died fighting for Russia after being killed in a drone attack in Ukraine, according to a report.
Bradley Townsend, 33, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, is reported to be the first UK national killed fighting for President Vladimir Putin.
According to LBC, the former fisherman travelled to Moscow in April where he met other British pro-Russian fighters Aiden Minnis and Ben Stimson who are thought to have recruited him online.
He was killed in a “storm operation” on 10 June, according to a Russia-linked social media account seen by LBC.
Townsend was described as a “warrior in a holy war” who had “sacrificed his life for the cause” by the account.
The Independent understands that the FCDO is aware of reports of a British national that has died in Ukraine and are in contact with his family. The foreign office advises against all travel to Russia and its ability to provide consular support in these circumstances is severely limited.
Tributes posted by pro-Russian accounts on social media refer to Townsend by his callsign “Badger”. “Ultimately, he sacrificed his life for our cause,” wrote one person based in Russia, according to his account. “His service was brief but he blazed the brightest star.”
In a video with Minnis about the mission, he said: “I’m just a normal working class lad from Yorkshire. I came with the idea that I probably wouldn’t be able to go home. I’d definitely get persecuted if I went back.
“But this was my own decision, I wasn’t pushed into anything. I’m not here for a suicide mission, but I understand that’s what can happen.”
People who knew Townsend told The Sun earlier this year that he had informed his family he would be travelling to Romania. They were said to be distraught when they learned that he had opted to fight for Moscow.
Others who said they knew him on social media said that he had struggled with addiction in previous years. Previous reports had suggested that he may have been groomed into the action online.
In response to reports that Townsend had travelled abroad in support of Russia, the UK prime minister’s official spokesperson told media at the time: “We stand steadfast in support of Ukraine. That support has not wavered in the face of ongoing attacks in the Middle East – that’s where our focus is and where everyone’s focus should be.”
Russia has been criticised for the treatment of its soldiers, with those who have escaped describing harrowing “meat-storms”, a tactic that is part of Russia’s “meat grinder” strategy, sending waves of men to wear down Ukrainian forces.
A report last month suggested that soldiers were lasting an average of 20 minutes when they reach the frontline due to drone attacks.
Putin’s military has suffered 1.4 million casualties on the battlefield including an estimated 450,000 deaths since February 2022, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.