Scott Sibley: Tributes to the former British soldier killed in Ukraine and the second British missing

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A British Army veteran has died and a second British man is missing after they are believed to have traveled to Ukraine to fight Russian forces.

Scott Sibley, 36, is the first British citizen confirmed to have died in the war.

A friend described him as the bravest person he knew. Another said he had a “wicked sense of humor.”

It is not clear what day he was killed, but it is believed to have been a few days ago in southern or eastern Ukraine.

It has also not been confirmed why they were in Ukraine. A spokesman for the International Legion, which comprises foreign fighters in the country, declined to comment.

Sky News has chosen not to name the missing man. The families of both British citizens have been informed about the situation and are being supported by the Foreign Office.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) did not provide any details about what the men had been doing in Ukraine.

An FCDO spokesman said: “We can confirm that a British national was killed in Ukraine and is supporting his family.”

Mr. Sibley used to serve in the Royal Logistics Corps.

His former unit paid tribute to him on their official Facebook page following news of his death, saying he “showed a spirit of command to the end”.

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A GoFundMe page set up to help cover funeral costs said Sibley was a father.

His friend, Craig, who created the page, wrote: “To me he was a friend like no other and the bravest person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, he was as good as a brother to me.

“His life may have been cut short, but he lived to the fullest and did things like the Sibs, until the very end.”

One person who commented on the site, Damon Tyler, said: “Brothers, I knew you from the ground up and then a great guy and a really solid guy, had a great sense of fun and always had a smile.”

Of the second British man, the FCDO spokesman said: “We are aware of a British national who is missing in Ukraine and we are supporting his family. We are urgently seeking further information.”

Fears have been raised about the safety of two other British citizens in Ukraine.

The Presidium Network, a UK-based non-profit organization, said the two men, civilians working as humanitarian aid volunteers, were seized by Russian forces at a checkpoint south of the city on Monday. Zaporizhzhia..

It is understood that the foreign office is urgently seeking more information following reports of British nationals being detained.

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Situation on the 63rd day of war in Ukraine
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine so far

Ukraine said thousands of foreigners have decided to head to Ukraine to join the fight against Vladimir Putin’s forces, including British veterans.

At the start of the war, the Ukrainian government urged volunteers from around the world to come and help support its armed forces as they faced the Russian invasion.

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The advice from the UK government has been that people should not travel to Ukraine to fight, but they can support Ukraine in many other ways.

Several people decided to leave anyway and are in the country helping Ukraine’s military defense.

It comes more than a week after two British fighters… Shaun Pinner Y Aiden Ashlin – were captured by Moscow forces.

Shaun Pinner, left, and Aiden Aslin, right, before being captured by Russian forces.
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Separately, Shaun Pinner (L) and Aiden Aslin were captured by Russian forces earlier this month.

The couple, who have been detained in Ukraine, appeared on Russian state television and asked to be exchanged for Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian politician close to Putin.

But when asked by Kay Burley of Sky News about the potential for such an exchange, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said: “We are actually going through the process of sanctioning people close to the Putin regime.

“We are not going to see how we can help Russia, we are looking to make sure that the Putin regime does not succeed in this heinous invasion and we will continue to do everything possible to support the Ukrainian people and the President and government of Ukraine to defeat Putin”.

Analysis: British fighters in Ukraine knew the risk

By Deborah Haynes, security and defense editor, in Ukraine

British military veterans who chose to fight for Ukraine against Russia know they could end up killed, wounded or captured, but it’s a risk they seem willing to take.

Scott Sibley, 36, a former soldier, has become the first British man believed to have traveled to Ukraine as a volunteer combatant and to die. A second British citizen, also believed to be a volunteer fighting for Ukraine, is missing.

A senior Conservative MP has urged other Britons to resist the urge to travel to an active war zone.

“The government has been very clear,” said Tobias Ellwood.

£All British citizens should not be in Ukraine. I know there is a lot of discussion in veterinarians [veterans] community to do their part, to help fight, but please don’t go, you are not only endangering yourself, but also others. You could injure yourself. You could even exhibit yourself on Russian television. Please don’t go to Ukraine.”

The Ukrainian government called on veterans from around the world, and anyone else who wanted to pick up a gun, to travel to their country and join a new International Legion of foreign volunteers to fight against the invading Russian forces.

Thousands are said to have responded, including a number from the UK. Some, potentially most, of these British veterans will have experienced war before, having fought for the British armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It is unclear what impact the death of one of their own will have on their choices in the future. He may well harden his resolve to continue fighting in the Ukraine rather than belatedly heed the UK government’s advice and return home.



Reference-news.sky.com

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