A Russian drone attack killed a British teenager on his first combat mission after he joined the Ukrainian army.
James Wilton, who recently turned 18 and came from Huddersfield, is the youngest Brit who died to defend Ukraine against the invasion of Vladimir Putin.
While he walked over a field with a group of international hunters who deliver stocks to the front line on July 23 last year, he was seen and chased by three unmanned aircraft (UAVs).
Only 30 meters from safety, he was caught by one of them who exploded. The explosion killed him, a former comrade told the Sun newspaper.
'First and last mission'
Jason, an American volunteer who was at Wilton once he died, said: 'Once the drone was on him, James never made a chance.
“It was James' first and last mission.”
The group had worn 60 kg of packs and moved in couples when they were detected.
Jason said: “We had to cross an open field without trees, no coverage, nothing, to supply other soldiers.
“I was a team leader and six of us walked apart in groups of two, 20 m. Me and James were the last two. '
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it “offered consular assistance to the family of a British man who died in Ukraine”.
Four months before his death, Wilton flew from Manchester to Ukraine to participate in the fight against Russian troops.
Before he left, he had taken a while after completing a two -year course in animal welfare and land care.
Wilton had no previous military experience, but received an emergency course from Ukrainian instructors about dealing with weapons before he was posted in the second international legion of Ukraine.
'I will never get over this'
Graham Wilton, his father, had asked his son not to go, but Wilton was determined in his determination to fight for Ukraine.
The Lord Wilton said to the sun: “I'll never get over it. I didn't want him to go, but his heart was put on it. He wanted to help Ukraine.
“I was told that pieces of the story of how he died, but I have trouble dealing with it and wishing that we could have exchanged place because he had his entire life for him.”
Mr Wilton, who drove his son to Manchester Airport for his journey to the war zone, later traveled to Ukraine for the cremation of his son and is now considering returning to spread his ashes.
He said: 'It took a while to process James's death. But I think it's time for a kind of public tribute to be paid and it's good to finally talk about what happened. “
The funeral of James Wilton. His father, Graham, said he would “never come over” the death of his son – Pa Wire
Since Russia has invaded Ukraine, it has been known that at least 16 British were killed in the conflict.
Last month, former British army Alexander Garms-Rizzi, 23, was killed in Ukraine while trying to save his fellow soldiers.
Garms-Rizzi, formerly from the Royal Welsh, acted as 'Ace' to distract Russian troops, allowing three Ukrainian troops to escape.
He was deadly struck by a Russian drone in “No Man's Land” while he ran in circles to pull fire from his comrades.
Last November another British volunteer, Callum Tindal-Draper, 22, from Cornwall, was killed in action. He died while defending an observation point aimed by Russian troops.
