A man has become the first Brit to die fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine. Bradley Townsend, who described himself as a “normal Yorkshire lad”, was killed in a drone attack in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
The 33-year-old, from Barnsley, left home in April to fight for Vladimir Putin after telling his family he was travelling to Romania. However, he had in fact travelled to Moscow after reportedly being recruited online by British pro-Russian fighters Aiden Minnis and Ben Stimson. Townsend, who had no previous military experience, then signed to fight on the frontline before being killed in a “storm operaton” near the city of Lyman on June 10.
As reported by LBC, a Russia-linked social media account confirmed his death. It described Townsend, whose callsign was “Badger”, as a “warrior in a holy war” who had “sacrificed his life for the cause”.
In April, Townsend described himself as a “normal working-class lad from Yorkshire” in a video interview with Minnis. He said he wanted to support Russian forces in Ukraine but admitted the trip may become a suicide mission.
He said: “I came with the idea that I probably wouldn’t be able to go home. I’d definitely get persecuted if I went back. I’m not here for a suicide mission, but I understand that’s what can happen. This was my own decision, I wasn’t pushed into anything.”
Meanwhile, Stimson, who was jailed in 2017 after joining a Russian-backed militia in Ukraine, insisted he did not recruit Townsend. He said he was “adamant he wanted to go and fight”.
Townsend previously claimed he wanted to fight for the Donbas region to repay support that Sovuet miners gave to striking Yorkshire miners in the 1980s. He also stated that British citizens had been “completely brainwashed” by the UK government’s portrayal of the war.
It is understood that the Foreign Office has been made aware of his death. Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister, condemned his decision to join the Russian forces as an “incredibly stupid thing to do”.
Townsend was among a small number of British nationals that have chosen to fight alongside the Russian military. He is the first recognised Brit to be killed while fighting for Putin’s army.
Stimson said in a tribute to him on Telegram: “Bradley had been a follower of my YouTube and Telegram channels for over 2 years.
“I had advised him to stay in the UK and support anti NATO protests at home. He contacted me 3 months ago to say he was coming to Russia to join the army.
“I told him just to come for a holiday. He arrived at the same time as another volunteer was on his holiday. We both told him the realities of the Special Military Operation and the dangers.
“I later said to Bradley he could still use his return ticket. Brad was adamant he wanted to go and fight.”
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