Mother of ex-British soldier killed fighting in Ukraine says he was ‘loved immensely’

A former British soldier who was killed while fighting in Ukraine was “loved immensely”, his family have said.

Jordan Chadwick had served in the Scots Guards but left the UK in early October 2022 to fight for the International Legion in Ukraine.

He was later found dead in a body of water with his hands tied behind his back, the BBC has revealed.

His mother Brenda Chadwick told the broadcaster he had always wanted to be a soldier and had gone to Ukraine to “support freedom” but news of his death had been “devastating” for the family.

She said: “His passion to support freedom and assist others with his skills led him to leave the UK and travel to Ukraine in early October 2022.

“Although we are extremely proud of his unwavering courage and resilience, his death has been devastating.”

She recalled how she was given the distressing news of her son’s death on 26 June by Lancashire Police.

The following day she heard from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which confirmed he had died.

The 31-year-old, from Burnley in Lancashire, had served in the Scots Guards in the British Army from 2011 to 2015.

His body was repatriated to the UK by the Ukrainian International Army on 7 August and an inquest into his death will be held in February.

Ms Chadwick said there were “no words” to describe the loss of a life cut so short.

She said he was “a son, brother, grandson, nephew and uncle, who was loved immensely”.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “We are providing assistance to the family of a British man who died in Ukraine and are in contact with the local authorities.”

He is not the first former British soldier to have been killed during the conflict in Ukraine.

Jordan Gatley, who had served in the Edinburgh-based third battalion of The Rifles, was killed fighting for Ukrainian armed forces in June 2022.