The mother of Bradley Townsend, the first known British national to die fighting for Russia in Ukraine, revealed that her son told her he was traveling to Romania, not the front lines. Townsend, 33, from Barnsley, died in combat in Lyman, in Ukraine's Donetsk region, on June 10 following a drone strike. He had no prior military experience.
His mother, Maureen, an NHS care support worker, stated that Townsend secretly left for Russia on April 1, telling his family he was going on a year-long trip. The family learned he had joined Russian ranks after he appeared in a video for the Russian International Volunteers Association on April 4.
Maureen recounted that her son initially told her he was going to Romania, a claim she believed until he informed her he was in Russia. Townsend, whose call sign was 'Badger', claimed his motivation for joining was to "repay the favour" to miners in Donbas who had donated to striking Yorkshire miners in the 1980s. He also stated in a social media post that he understood he might not be able to return home and that he would be persecuted if he did.
Townsend's family has no Russian connections and are now facing difficulties repatriating his body, as Russia is reportedly refusing to cooperate with the British government. His family has expressed their grief and desire to lay him to rest in the UK.
Other Britons fighting for Russia paid tribute to Townsend. Aiden Minnis stated on Facebook that Townsend "wanted to help the people of Russia defeat the Nazis" and that he "sacrificed his life for our cause." Ben Stimson, who was previously jailed in the UK for joining a Russian-backed militia, wrote on Telegram that he had advised Townsend to stay in the UK but that Townsend was "adamant he wanted to go and fight." Stimson mentioned that Townsend's flat cap would be left on Ilkley Moor.
Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat called Townsend's decision "unbelievably stupid" and "extremely misguided," adding that joining the Russian armed forces is "criminal" given the army is committing "barbarous war crimes." The Foreign Office confirmed they were aware of the reports of a British national's death and were in contact with his family.