The war in Ukraine has claimed the life of another foreign volunteer.
In Ukraine, during military operations in the Sumy region, British volunteer Benjamin “Budgie” Burgess, who was considered one of the best combat drone pilots, was killed.
The Daily Mail writes about this.
Benjamin Burgess, 33, from Portsmouth, UK, was a former British Army soldier who volunteered to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces after Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. According to his fellow soldiers, Ben spent more than three years on the frontline, demonstrating exceptional skills in operating unmanned aerial vehicles, which play a key role in modern warfare.
According to information published by the Kyiv Post, Ben was killed on June 20 near the village of Andreevka in the Sumy region. His coffin was covered with the national flags of Great Britain and Ukraine. At the farewell ceremony, his brothers-in-arms held his photographs in their hands, and the words of the Ukrainian national anthem were played. Among those present were about forty people – relatives, friends, and military personnel who served alongside Ben.
One of the British volunteers, known by the call sign “Azrael”, who serves in the 78th separate airborne assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, spoke about Ben's combat path.
He first fought in Zaporizhia, worked in medical evacuation units in the Donetsk region, and then became a first-person view drone pilot (FPV), which quickly became his passion and main specialty. “He was one of the best pilots we had,” Azrael noted. According to him, Ben came to Ukraine because he truly believed in its freedom and was ready to fight for it until his last breath.
Burgess left a deep mark on his comrades – he was not only a warrior, but also a friend, a brother to many. Although Ben was single, he had a girlfriend who lives in Odessa. “He left behind a legacy of friendship and loyalty,” the sworn brother added.
On Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv, inscriptions appeared expressing respect and gratitude to the deceased: “Thank you for protecting us… We love you, brother, until we meet again… Ben was a true Cossack… Forever in my memory, heart and soul.” These words reflect the deep sympathy and respect that Ukrainians express for the foreign volunteer, who became one of the symbols of the fight for freedom.
Russian sources had previously claimed that Ben had been killed, and this information was confirmed after his death at the front. His death was a significant loss not only for the Ukrainian military, but also for all those who support Ukraine in its struggle.
Let us recall that earlier we wrote about the death of a British sapper near Izyum, who was clearing mines from the territory after the Russian occupation.
