British former soldier killed fighting in Ukraine
Family of Jordan Gatley are ‘totally heartbroken’ after he was shot dead in battle for Severodonetsk
A FORMER British soldier, Jordan Gatley, has been killed, after joining Ukrainian troops fighting against Russian forces.
Mr Gatley died in the battle for the eastern city of Severodonetsk.
The rifleman is the second British national known to have been killed in the war in Ukraine after former soldier Scott Sibley died in April.
Dean Gatley, pictured above left with Jordan, paid tribute to his son. He posted on Facebook that the family had learnt of the fatal shooting on Friday.
He added: “We have had several messages from his team out there telling us of his wealth of knowledge, his skills as a soldier and his love of his job.
“His team say they all loved him, as did we, and he made a massive difference to many people’s lives, not only soldiering but also by training the Ukrainian forces.”
A BRITISH mother has said that her “worst nightmare has come true” after her son was killed fighting against Russian forces.
Jordan Gatley, who left the British Army in March and joined Ukrainian troops, was shot dead in the intense fighting for the eastern city of Severodonetsk. Mr Gatley, who had previously served with the Edinburgh-based 3rd Battalion The Rifles, had been helping to train troops as well as serving alongside them, it was said.
In response to condolences, his mother, Sally Gatley, said: “My worst nightmare has come true, and we are totally heartbroken.”
Severodonetsk, once a significant regional town of 100,000 people, has become the focus of fighting in the Donbas region.
Russia has concentrated its air force and artillery on the town and reduced it to rubble but, despite its overwhelming firepower, Ukrainian forces have said that they are still fighting in the city.
Dean Gatley, who lives in Cheshire, posted on Facebook that the family had received the “devastating news” that his son had been shot and killed on Friday.
“Jordan left the British Army in March this year to continue his career as a soldier in other areas,” he said.
“The war against Europe had begun so, after careful consideration, he went to the Ukraine to help.
“We have had several messages from his team out there telling us of his wealth of knowledge, his skills as a soldier and his love of his job.
“His team say they all loved him, as did we, and he made a massive difference to many people’s 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.”
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, also paid tribute last night. “It takes a lot of courage to leave home and go thousand miles to defend what you believe in. Just because the heart says so. Because you can’t look at evil,” he said. “Jordan Gatley was a true hero. We will always remember his contribution to the protection of Ukraine.”
The rifleman is the second British national known to have been killed in the war in Ukraine after former soldier Scott Sibley died in April. The 36-yearold father from Northumberland was killed during fighting in Mykolaiv.
Ukraine has appealed for foreign soldiers to join up to its Foreign Legion.
The head of the British armed forces, Adm Sir Tony Radakin, said that Britons should not go join the conflict and should find ways to help from home.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Ukraine.”
The news of Mr Gatley’s death came as Serhiy Gaidai, the Ukrainian governor of the Luhansk region, accused Russian forces of shelling a chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians and Ukrainian soldiers have been sheltering.