Devon-born former RAF airman Ayrton Redfearn, 23, has tragically been killed in action after joining a specialist military unit in Ukraine’s Donetsk region
Ayrton Redfearn has been killed in action after joining a specialist military unit in Ukraine(Image: History – those who came before/Facebookook)
A British family has been left heartbroken after a 23-year-old man from Devon was killed in action while fighting in Ukraine. Tributes have been paid to Ayrton Redfearn, who tragically lost his life on May 9 in the war-torn Donetsk region.
The young Brit had travelled overseas in 2025 to enlist in a specialist unit assisting the Ukrainian military in the war against Russia. Speaking to the BBC, his devastated mother, Natasha, opened up about the constant dread she faced while her son was on the front lines, admitting she “lived in fear of the police coming to my door with bad news.”
She said: “This fear became reality on the evening of May 11 and the world of myself, and Ayrton’s 10-year-old brother, then fell apart.”
Long before heading to the conflict in Eastern Europe, Redfearn had a passion for service. He joined the Torquay Air Cadets as a child and went on to sign up for the Royal Air Force at just 17 years old.
Paying tribute to her son’s immense bravery, Natasha expressed the family’s struggle to cope with the unimaginable loss.
She said: “We are trying to have just 1%f the strength, bravery and courage of Ayrton, and if we can do this, it will help us to eventually come to terms with our life without him. I am very grateful for all the tributes, messages and support from those who knew Ayrton and from strangers.”
Following the tragedy, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed they are assisting the grieving family.
A spokesperson for the FCDO said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Ukraine, and are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities.”
The government continues to warn UK citizens against travelling to the region to take up arms, highlighting the extreme dangers faced by those on the ground.
Official guidance on the FCDO website reiterates the severe perils of entering the conflict zone.
It states: “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.”
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