An 18-year-old British volunteer fighting for Ukraine was killed by a Russian drone just minutes into his first frontline mission, The Sun has reported.

James Wilton, from Huddersfield, had no prior military experience and travelled to Ukraine aged 17 to join the fight against Russian forces.

Wilton flew from Manchester to Poland before crossing into Ukraine, where he received a crash course in military training from Ukrainian instructors. His first and final mission took place on July 23, 2024. According to his friend Jason, a US volunteer fighter, their unit was attempting to cross an open field with no cover when multiple Russian drones attacked. Jason, Wilton’s team leader, recalled how the young Briton froze mid-way through the field just before the assault. A drone armed with a bomb hovered above, as the operator attempted to target both men. When Wilton tried to run, he was struck by an explosion just 30 metres from safety.

Jason risked his life to retrieve Wilton’s body and continued fighting, evacuating wounded comrades before stepping on a landmine four days later, resulting in the loss of his foot, The Sun reported. Speaking from a rehabilitation centre in Lviv, Jason described Wilton as the youngest in their group – someone they all felt protective towards and whom he saw as a younger brother.

Speaking to the British tabloid, Wilton’s father, Graham, expressed his devastation.

“I’ll never get over this. I didn’t want him to go, but his heart was set on it. He wanted to help Ukraine,” he said.

Wilton had previously completed a two-year course in animal welfare before deciding to fight. His body was cremated in Ukraine, and his father brought the ashes back to the UK, though he is considering returning to scatter them in the country his son fought for.

The British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has warned that Britons fighting for Ukraine may be committing offences under UK legislation.

“You could be prosecuted on your return to the UK,” states official FCDO advice. “Since 18 May 2024, British nationals who join the International Legion or Ukraine Armed Forces have to serve at least six months and are not allowed to leave Ukraine during this period. British nationals fighting in Ukraine have been killed or captured. British nationals undertaking humanitarian work have also been detained by Russian authorities. The risk to life, or of maltreatment, is high. The British Government’s ability to support you in these circumstances is very limited.”