A British man fighting for Russia in Ukraine has been declared missing in action, his family reports, sparking a desperate search for answers.
Nathan Stobbart, 30, was reportedly warned he faced deportation from Russia if he did not enlist in the army for a year. His mother, Valerie Stobbart, received a text message in December 2025 from Nathan's wife in Russia, stating he had disappeared while fighting and that his unit had declared him missing in action on December 12.
Valerie Stobbart, from Newcastle, England, stated that her son had told her he was working as an electrical contractor and she was unaware he had joined the Russian army in April of the previous year. She described the shock of receiving the news, saying her son had "completely disappeared off the face of the earth."
According to Stobbart, Russian authorities had threatened her son with deportation if he did not sign up for military service. "He was so desperate to stay with his family he would do anything," she said. Nathan moved to Russia on Christmas Day 2024 to be with his now-wife Ksenia, whom he met online. The couple married in Russia and were raising Ksenia's three children from a previous relationship, along with their newborn son.
Stobbart maintains that her son did not intend to fight when he moved to Russia. "He never wanted to join the army," she stated. "He was there to live with his family." She also emphasized that she condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine but her priority is finding her son.
It is illegal for British citizens without dual nationality to fight for foreign nations involved in conflicts with countries with which the UK is at peace, under the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870.
Valerie Stobbart has contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which confirmed it was aware of reports of a British national missing after fighting for Russia and was in contact with his family. The FCDO stated that it advises against all travel to Russia and its ability to provide consular support is severely limited.
Russian authorities reportedly provided no leads regarding Stobbart's last known whereabouts, citing classified information. Stobbart's mother has spent months searching for information online and has approached various charities and government bodies without success.
Stobbart also lost her job at the Home Office, where she worked as an asylum decision-maker, after being suspended for gross misconduct. She was sacked for breaching her contract by contacting a media reporter for information, despite not disclosing her employer or her role.
Despite the challenges and lack of concrete information, Valerie Stobbart remains hopeful that her son is alive and may be a prisoner of war. She continues to search daily for any news, clinging to reports of individuals returning after long periods of captivity. The family has provided DNA samples, hoping it will aid in identification should her son be found. The Foreign Office has confirmed it is offering support to the family.