A former British solider has been killed fighting in eastern Ukraine, his family have said.
Jordan Gately, described as “truly a hero”, was shot dead in Sievierodonetsk, a key city in Russia’s efforts to advance in eastern Ukraine, his loved ones said in an emotional tribute shared to Facebook.
Dean Gatley wrote on Facebook: “Yesterday (10/06/22) we received the devastating news that our son, Jordan, has been shot and killed in the city of Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine.
“Jordan left the British Army in March this year to continue his career as a soldier in other areas. The war against Europe had begun so, after carful consideration, he went to the Ukraine to help.”
His family said they had received several communications from his team in Ukraine telling them of Jordan’s “wealth of knowledge, his skills as a soldier and his love of his job.”
The public post continues: “His team say they all loved him, as did we, and he made a massive difference to many peoples lives, not only soldiering, but also by training the Ukrainian forces.
“Jordan and his team were so proud of the work they were doing and he often told me that the missions they were going on were dangerous, but necessary.
“He loved his job and we are so proud of him. He truly was a hero and will forever be in our hearts.”
It comes just days after two British men captured while fighting for Ukraine were been sentenced to death in a court in a Russian-backed separatist state.
Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48, were tried in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in what observers denounced as “a disgusting Soviet era show trial”.
They were captured in April while fighting for Ukrainian forces against Russian invaders in Mariupol.
The British men were sentenced alongside a Moroccan national, Brahim Saadoun, who reportedly had been a student studying in Kyiv before he was also detained in April.
All were accused by Russia and Kremlin-backed Donetsk separatists of being “mercenaries” and sentenced to death after being accused of “terrorism”.
More follows
