A 23-year-old British man fighting alongside Ukrainian forces has been killed in action in the eastern Donetsk region, the UK government confirmed.Ayrton Redfearn, from Devon in south-west England, died on May 9 while serving with a specialist military unit supporting Ukraine’s armed forces. His mother, Natasha, said he had joined the unit last year and was due to receive a bravery award just days after his death for saving another soldier’s life.The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it was supporting his family and was in contact with Ukrainian authorities.
‘Extremely happy’ serving in Ukraine, says mother
In an emotional tribute shared on Facebook, Natasha described her son as “beautiful, strong and incredibly brave” and said he had found purpose while fighting in Ukraine.She said Redfearn, known by the call sign “Musso”, had formed close friendships with fellow foreign volunteers “all with the same mission of fighting for Ukraine”.“He was an outstanding soldier,” she wrote, adding that tributes had poured in from his commander and comrades praising both his professionalism in combat and his humour off duty.“He remained clever, funny and a prankster while off duty, always able to boost morale,” she said.Redfearn had recently been promoted to team leader within his unit.
Former RAF recruit and Air Cadet
Redfearn was a former student at Churston Ferrers Grammar School and joined the Torquay Air Cadets as a child. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force before later travelling overseas.His mother said she had long feared receiving tragic news from the frontlines.“I lived in fear of the police coming to my door with bad news,” she said. “That fear became reality.”Teachers and former mentors also paid tribute, describing him as intelligent, charismatic and admired by his peers.Dr Ben King, one of his former tutors, called him a “lovely lad” and said the school community was shocked by his death.“He had so much to give,” King said. “He was such a lovable rogue.”
UK warns citizens against fighting in Ukraine
The FCDO continues to warn British nationals against travelling to large parts of Ukraine, including the Donetsk region, due to the ongoing war and high security risks.British authorities have repeatedly cautioned that foreign fighters in Ukraine face the risk of death, capture and mistreatment. Humanitarian workers have also reportedly been detained by Russian authorities during the conflict.In the early months of the war, Ukrainian officials said more than 20,000 foreign volunteers from over 50 countries had joined the fight against Russia. The number of foreign fighters currently serving is now classified.
