Brit ex-soldier killed in Ukraine helping troops fight Russian invaders as grieving fiancée battles to get body home | The Sun
AN ex-British soldier who jetted to Ukraine to help fight against Russian troops has been killed in the war-torn country.
Julian Thorn, 36, died in a car crash and his devastated fiancée now faces huge costs to bring his body back to the UK.
He travelled from Northumberland to Ukraine in February last year to help train Volodymyr Zelensky's forces as Vladimir Putin's invasion kicked off.
Julian – known to friends and family as Jay – shared pictures on his Facebook showing him holding a sniper and donning military fatigues.
But on May 21, the former pub landlord was killed in a road accident.
His heartbroken fiancée Louise Lathbury says his death has left a "void in my heart" as she battles to arrange for his body to be brought back home.
She wrote on GoFundMe: "As we all come to terms with this unthinkable loss, I have to face the overwhelming task of repatriating Jay back home.
"The cost of this is incredibly high."
Louise said Jay wanted to "do some good" so decided to head to Ukraine to do humanitarian work.
Jay – who previously ran a pub in the village of Allendale -spent eight years in the army and used his skills to help train Ukrainian troops in their heroic bid to defend their homeland.
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Louise told ChronicleLive: "He had been going back and forward since the war started.
"He was doing a bit of everything over there. He was training a lot of the soldiers, because he's ex-military and he was supporting different units.
"He felt he had skills that could be used there. It was something he felt he had to do."
Louise, who met Jay in 2019, said although the pair messaged constantly, she was worried about his safety in the war zone.
Amid her grief, Louise has now been told it could cost up to £10,000 to bring Jay's body back as the hostilities in Ukraine invalidates his insurance.
So far, more than £6,500 has been donated.
Louise added: "I know that Jay touched the lives of so many people and I am incredibly grateful for any support you can offer during this difficult time."
A Foreign Office spokesman told The Sun: “We are providing support to the family of a British man following his death in Ukraine, and are in touch with the local authorities.”
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