Honoring Foreign Volunteers Who Stood With Ukraine—And Made the Ultimate Sacrifice

After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, hundreds of foreign volunteers refused to stand by and chose to join the ranks alongside Ukrainians to fight for freedom and justice. These volunteers gave their time, money, and health to help a democratic nation that stood in the face of one of the biggest armies in the world.

This is the story of the foreign fighters who gave everything for what they believed in—for freedom.

Peter “Hasta La Vista” Fouché

Peter Fouché from London, UK, came to Ukraine at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Having a teenage daughter himself, Peter could not bear to see the suffering of children in a war-torn country.

“I see what is happening to children from Ukraine, and I cannot let it happen to my child,” Peter once said.

Fouché founded a charity fund, Project Konstantin, named after his fallen friend, whom he met in the Territorial Defense Forces. The foundation helped deliver drones and other supplies to soldiers on the frontline and helped evacuate the injured from dangerous areas.

Many knew Peter from his viral videos, in which he called to the world and expressed his frustration with the delay of Western aid to Ukraine.

“For God’s sake, what do you people think you are doing when you give out a drop at a time and cancel the transfer of so desperately needed ammunition to Ukraine?” Peter said.

On June 27, 2024, Peter was killed while serving as a combat medic in the east of Ukraine.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Pete, our beloved director and founder,” the statement on the charity’s social media pages stated. “There are no words that can do Pete’s life justice. No words or phrases that could ever encapsulate how much he meant to all of us.”

Chris Parry and Andrew Bagshaw

UK volunteer Christopher Parry, 28, and dual New Zealand-UK citizen Andrew Bagshaw, 48, were killed while evacuating civilians from Soledar, a frontline town under relentless Russian assault.

Parry had been in Ukraine since March 2022, saving over 400 lives and countless abandoned animals. His family described him as deeply driven: “He found himself drawn to Ukraine in its darkest hour and helped those most in need.”

The circumstances of their deaths remain chilling. It was reported that the two left Kramatorsk for Soledar on January 6, 2023, and were declared missing the following evening after losing contact with them.

Bagshaw’s father, Philip Bagshaw, stated that Andrew’s autopsy results indicate he was executed, having been shot in the torso and head. He also claims that Christopher Parry suffered nearly identical injuries, though Parry’s family has not publicly commented on his statements.

Describing it as a “classic style of execution,” Bagshaw noted that people he spoke with in Ukraine believe Wagner PMC (Russian private military company) fighters were responsible.

Jordan Maclachlan

Jordan Maclachlan, a 26-year-old from Ardnamurchan, Highlands in Scotland, got killed in action on January 3, 2025. He came to Ukraine at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 as a volunteer and chose to serve as a medic within the Ukrainian army.

“Jordan always believed that he was making a difference and we are all so proud of him helping others,” his family statement read. “Jordan was a fun-loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and a friend to many and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”

Ethan Hertweck

Ethan Hertweck, 21, a US Marine Corps veteran from California came to Ukraine to fight for what he believed in. Hertweck, who served as a combat medic, was killed by gunfire on December 14, 2023, near Avdiivka, Donetsk region, while saving a wounded comrade.

“He was taken too young and he died a true hero,” Ethan’s mother Leslie said. “I’m a very proud mom of what he did, that he came here for your people, for the country of Ukraine, to fight for freedom. That’s what Ethan stood for, was freedom.”

Hertweck was initially declared missing in action. In December 2024, his remains were returned as part of a prisoner exchange between the Ukrainian and Russian forces.

Jay Andrus, a 25-year-old US Marine veteran who trained in Ukraine alongside Hertweck, described him as someone who “genuinely, truly wanted to help people.”

Maria Zaitseva

Maria Zaitseva, 24, originally from Belarus, was no stranger to fighting for democracy. She had protested against Lukashenko’s regime in 2020, suffering severe injuries from a flashbang grenade.

Determined to make a difference, she joined the Ukrainian army as part of the Second International Legion. On January 16, 2025, she celebrated her 24th birthday. The next day, she was killed by the Russian forces near the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region.

“Maria always believed that she could do more,” said Ales, a fighter in the legion. “The main thing for her was to do good. Freedom is something that either exists in a person or not. She was a free person.”

Levan Lokhishvili

Since the early days of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine, hundreds of Georgian volunteers joined Ukrainians in their fight against Russian aggression, with Levan Lokhishvili being one of them.

Lokhishvili arrived in Ukraine on March 29, 2022, and joined the 3rd Company of the 220th Battalion, part of the 126th Separate Brigade of Territorial Defense of Odesa—a unit primarily composed of volunteers. Before joining the fight, Levan worked as a chef.

His comrade, Alexander Rogava, told the media that Lokhishvili was killed in a drone attack in the Kherson region on November 19, 2025.

“I met Levan on the way to Ukraine in the early days of the war,” Rogava said. “We shook hands then, and from that moment on, we walked this path together. He will always remain my younger brother for the rest of my life.”

Callum Tindal-Draper

When Russia’s full-scale aggression started, Callum Tindal-Draper from Gunnislake, Cornwall, UK, said “I can’t look back on my life in the future and know I stood by when people needed me and I did nothing.”

Callum, 22, was a member of the International Legion. His life was cut short on November 5, 2024, during an infantry mission.

“Callum was bullied quite badly at school and it got to the point where he eventually vowed that he was never going to be bullied again,” Callum’s parents said. “He went beyond that and said he was never going to let anyone around him get bullied again.”

His parents said Callum had “found his home” in Ukraine, where he was buried.

Tomasz Sękala

Tomasz Sękala was a young, 22-year-old, Polish volunteer, who joined the ranks of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine in the fall of 2023. Sękala’s life was cut short on July 13, 2024, when the volunteer got killed in action near the village of Dibrova, Luhansk region.

“Today we are here to say goodbye to a soldier who gave his life for the freedom of Ukraine,” said the leader of the farewell ceremony. “We are now writing the history of Ukraine. Anyone who leaves us will be written in golden letters in this modern history of the free democratic world.”

Tadas Tumas

Tadas Tumas served in the 2nd Battalion of the International Legion special forces battalion of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. He was killed in a Russian drone attack near the village of Ivanivske, close to Bakhmut in the Donetsk region.

Tumas was the first Lithuanian volunteer killed on the frontlines in Ukraine, serving as a mortar operator.

“He made decisions quickly and was fearless,” a fellow comrade recalled. “He was a devoted fan of the Žalgiris football club. He volunteered for the front, as did many other football fans. He was 43.”

The Žalgiris football club has also expressed condolences to the family of the fallen volunteer, who had been a member of its fan club.

“Tragic news—a member of our passionate community was killed fighting for a free world in Ukraine, accompanied by green and white both at home and on trips,” Žalgiris’s statement read. “May you rest in peace, Tad.”

This short article cannot describe the courage and determination of the above-mentioned volunteers, nor can it encapsulate all the volunteers who gave their lives defending Ukraine.

But this is a modest attempt to commemorate the brave souls who left the comfort of their home countries to join war-torn Ukraine in an attempt to make a difference—and they did.

Save The Heroes

A life-defining fundraiser for 5 armored medevacs that are needed on the frontline right now

Donate