British volunteer killed in action in Donetsk, Ukraine

Ayrton Redfearn, a 23-year-old British man from south Devon, was killed in action in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on 9 May, his mother confirmed. He had joined a specialist unit supporting the Ukrainian army in 2025.

His mother, who asked to be known as Natasha, said she was "deeply heartbroken to share the news that my beautiful, strong and incredibly brave son was killed." She said she had "lived in fear of the police coming to my door with bad news" and that "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."

Natasha added that her son had been due to receive a bravery award days after his death. "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," she said.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Ukraine, and are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities." The FCDO advises against all travel to large parts of Ukraine, including Donetsk.

Redfearn was a former pupil at Churston Ferrers Grammar School and joined Torquay Air Cadets at age 12. At 17, he enlisted in the RAF before travelling overseas.

Dr Ben King, who was Redfearn's tutor for five years, described him as "highly intelligent" and a "lovely lad" who "everyone admired." King said Redfearn had a clear interest in the forces early on and the news of his death had left the school "really shocked." "Within the first couple of weeks he was voted in by his peers as the house representative, which says a lot. So he made a great impression straight away," King said. "He had so much to give, he was such a lovable rogue."