Latest news with #BenBurgess
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
British soldier killed operating drones on Ukraine front line
A former British Army soldier has been killed while serving as a drone operator in Ukraine. Ben Leo Burgess, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, volunteered to join the Ukrainian fight against Russia in 2022 and saw action in some of the most brutal battles of the war. The 33-year-old, who went by the call sign 'Budgie', served at the front for three years until he was killed in the village of Andriivka in Ukraine's Sumy region on June 20, according to local reports. Mr Burgess, from the 78th Air Assault Regiment, was first deployed to the Zaporizhzhia region in south-east Ukraine with the artillery, before moving on to medical evacuations further east in Donetsk. He later specialised in flying first-person-view drones. His friend and fellow British volunteer, identified only by the call sign 'Azrael', told the Kyiv Post: 'He was among the best pilots we had. He came to Ukraine because he truly believed in its freedom. And he died fighting for that.' 'He fought well, fought bravely,' he added. 'We were the last two foreign fighters in our regiment.' 'He was my family here. I've lost many friends in this war – he's my biggest loss.' 'Thank you for protecting' A funeral was held for Mr Burgess in Kyiv on Monday, which was attended by 40 friends, family and soldiers from his regiment. The Ukrainian national anthem was played and both the Ukrainian and British flags were draped over his coffin. Mourners then went to the city's Maidan Square to plant a flag for him at a memorial for fallen soldiers. Handwritten messages on the flag read: 'Thank you for protecting', 'Love you brother, until we meet again', and 'Forever in my mind, heart, and soul'. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Ukraine and are in contact with the local authorities.'
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Daily Mail
'Hero' Brit fighter Ben 'Budgie' Burgess, 33, who became 'one of Ukraine's best drone pilots' is killed in action as dozens attend Kyiv funeral
Ukraine has paid its respects to a 'hero' British drone pilot who was killed earlier this month fighting on the frontline against Vladimir Putin 's troops. Ben 'Budgie' Burgess, 33, from Portsmouth, was a former British Army serviceman who volunteered to fight in Ukraine following the full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022. He had served on the frontline for three years, according to members of his unit. A funeral attended by 40 people, including family and friends, was held at Kyiv 's main crematorium for the volunteer, the Kyiv Post reported. His coffin was draped in the British and Ukrainian flags as fellow soldiers held framed pictures of the fallen drone pilot. Russian sources had earlier claimed the British fighter - full name Benjamin Leo Burgess, call sign Budgie - had been 'eliminated'. Reports suggest he was killed in Andreevka, in Ukraine's Sumy region, on June 20. Another British volunteer soldier - identified only by his call sign Azrael - said: 'A lot of people come to Ukraine for different reasons, but Budgie definitely came for the belief that Ukraine deserves to be free. 'And he was willing to fight for that. And he did. 'He fought well, fought bravely, and ultimately was killed doing that.' The Kyiv Post reported: 'Family, friends, and fellow soldiers stood together, some hugging his coffin as sunflowers and roses were laid gently on top. 'The Ukrainian national anthem played as a final tribute.' Azrael, from Ukraine's 78th airborne assault regiment, said Burgess first served in Zaporizhzhia with the artillery, before working with 'medevacs' in Donetsk. He then fought as a first-person-view (FPV) drone pilot, which Azrael said 'became his obsession and expertise'. 'He was among the best pilots we had,' said his comrade. 'He came to Ukraine because he truly believed in its freedom. And he died fighting for that.' Azrael said: 'We were the last two foreign fighters in our regiment. 'He was my family here. I've lost many friends in this war – he's my biggest loss.' Burgess was single but had a girlfriend in Odesa and a 'legacy of friendship and commitment', he said. Messages left on Maidan Square read: 'Thank you for protecting... Love you brother, until we meet again... Ben was a true Cossack... Forever in my mind, heart, and soul.'
