At least 40 Britons have died fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, it has been revealed.
A memorial at the ‘Indomitable Ukraine’ exhibition in London pays tribute to the dozens of British soldiers killed while enlisted in the Ukranian army since 2022.
In January, the death toll of British soldiers in the war was only estimated to be at 15. The number of Ukrainian soldiers killed since Russia launched its full scale invasion more than three years ago is over 500,000.
There are not recent figures to suggest how many Britons have left the UK to join the Ukranian army, but it was believed to be around 3,000 back in 2022.
Scott Sibley, named on the tribute wall, died aged 36 in a shell attack in Mykolaiv following a drone strike on his regiment.
A father of two, Viktor Yatsunyk, 44, was a Ukrainian native who returned to his home country to fight. He was killed by a landmine whilst attempting to rescue his comrades.
Jordan Chadwick, 31, was a former British army soldier who was found dead lying in a reservoir with his hands tied just outside of Kramatorsk.
The youngest among the names was 18-year old James Sibley who reportedly died just minutes into his first mission in Ukraine in July last year. He was just 17 when he left the UK.
The oldest was 69-year old James Gerrard Richard Shortt, though his cause of death has not been disclosed.
The list also included three soldiers known only by their call names ‘Vulcan’, ‘Scouse’, and ‘Ghost’.
There was also one redacted name, though the reason for its erasure is not known.
One mother out of the many families of British soldiers in attendance said her son Marlyn Christopher Tarmey died in Ukraine in June aged 20.
She said: “He was always like, ‘I’m gonna go. I’m gonna go’.
“Obviously, I didn’t (him) want to, but I supported him, because if you don’t support them, they stop contact.”
The family were later informed by police that Mr Tarmey was missing in action.
The Ukrainian ambassador to the United Kingdom General Valerii Zaluzhnyi paid tribute to the British people who have died fighting for Ukraine.
He said: “Among those who choose the side of life, British citizens who gave their lives for Ukraine.”
Addressing their families, many of whom were in the room, he said: “I want to say your sacrifice is not in vain. It has become the smiles of our children who are living. Thank you very much.”
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson also made a speech to mark the war museum’s opening. Mr Johnson urged the UK government to finally put a stop to the war, telling the audience that the UK and its allies lacked “the will and the leadership and the sense of urgency” to put a stop to the war. He also suggested the UK should send troops to Ukraine now rather than later.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian prime minister Zelenskyy met with US president Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly to try and find an end to the four-year war. President Trump made a U-turn on previous assertions that Ukraine should make concessions.
He said on Truth Social: "I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.
“With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option."
The ‘Indomitable Ukraine’ exhibition will run at The Vinyl Factory in Soho, London from September 23 to September 29.
