Brit killed in action in Ukraine as 'deeply heartbroken' mum pays tribute

A 23-year-old British man has been killed in action in Ukraine. Ayrton Redfearn died in the Donetsk region, in the eastern part of the war-torn nation, on May 9.

The young man, from Devon, had joined a specialist unit supporting the Ukrainian army in 2025, his mother said on Saturday. The woman said to be “deeply heartbroken to share the news that my beautiful, strong and incredibly brave son was killed”.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Ukraine, and are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities”.

His mother, who gave her name as Natasha, told the BBC she “lived in fear of the police coming to my door with bad news”.

She said: “This fear became reality on the evening of 11 May and the world of myself, and Ayrton’s 10-year-old brother, then fell apart.”

Mr Redfearn joined the Torquay Air Cadets as a child, aged 12, and at 17 he enlisted in the RAF before travelling overseas.

His mother added: “We are trying to have just 1% of the strength, bravery and courage of Ayrton, and if we can do this, it will help us to eventually come to terms with our life without him.

“I am very grateful for all the tributes, messages and support from those who knew Ayrton and from strangers.”

Sharing a tribute on Facebook, she said Mr Redfearn was “extremely happy” in Ukraine.

The FCDO warns that British nationals fighting in Ukraine face a high risk of maltreatment.

Its website says: “British nationals fighting in Ukraine have been killed or captured. British nationals undertaking humanitarian work have also been detained by Russian authorities.

“The risk to life, or of maltreatment, is high.”