His family has confirmed that a former British soldier died while fighting Russian forces in Severodonetsk in Ukraine.
Jordan Gatley (24 years old) left the British Army after six years, “to continue his career in a soldier’s role in other areas”. He flew to Ukraine shortly afterward to assist in fighting off Russian forces as well as train Ukrainian soldiers.
Ex-comrades from 3rd Battalion The Rifles were among those who paid tribute to their former comrade. An advisor to President Volodymyr Zilenskyy called him “a true hero”.
Dean, Jordan’s father, posted the shocking news via Facebook: “Yesterday (10/06/22), we received the terrible news that our son Jordan had been shot and killed at the city of Severodonetsk in Ukraine.”
Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed that it was “supporting the family” of a British man who died in Ukraine.
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His father said that his son was loved by all of his team, as well as us. He made a huge difference in many people’s lives through his service, including training the Ukrainian forces.
“Jordan, his team, were so proud of their work and he often said to me that the missions were dangerous but necessary.
He loved his job, and we are proud to have him as our father. He was truly a hero, and we will always remember him.”
Sky News was informed by him that Jordan had signed up for the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine (the Ukrainian Foreign Legion) and began to travel out on March 18.
He said that he was receiving his pay but died before his first paycheck arrived.
“He joined it because he was covered under the Geneva Convention
“He truly cared for people in trouble. Two days later, I still cry.”
The hundreds of condolence messages left for Mr Gatley by his Facebook post on Saturday night have been overwhelming.
Mykhailo Podolyak was also a adviser to Volodymyr Zelenskyy the Ukrainian President.
On Twitter, he wrote: “It takes courage to leave home to travel thousands of miles to defend what I believe in.”
“Just because your heart says so. Because you can’t bear the evil.
“Jordan Gatley is a true hero. We will always remember his contributions to the protection and freedom of Ukraine and the world.
Sky News spoke with Will Murray, who was in The Rifles’ 3rd Battalion The Rifles alongside Jordan. He said that Jordan was a great lad. He was professional and took his job seriously.
Murray claimed they weren’t deployed to conflict during their time together. However, he had left The Rifles in 2020 so it is possible that Jordan was on such a deployment from March last year to then.
“I was shocked [he went to Ukraine]. He didn’t seem to think so. He took it very seriously, as I mentioned,” Mr Murray added.
Billyjoe Powers, another person who served alongside Jordan in the 3rd Battalion The Rifles told Sky News that Gatley was already there at the time as a Lance Corporal when he got me into the army. He was a great lad, always putting you first. He was a perfectionist in his field, always looking out to help others. He was a top lad.
He always had a smile on him.”
He responded to the news of his passing by saying: “I couldn’t believe it.” I was shocked to see the RIPs and I had no idea he had died.
Second Briton dies in Ukraine after the war started
Jordan Gatley, a Briton, was the second to be confirmed as having died in Ukraine during World War II.
Scott Sibley, 36 years old, was killed in April. He was also a former member the British Armed forces.
In recent weeks, the Russian offensive has been focusing on Severodonetsk as the central focus.
It is the only area in the occupied eastern Luhansk that is still under Ukrainian control.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD), in its most recent intelligence update, stated that Russia is using its overmatch of force ratio and artillery in order to slowly seize territory around Severodonetsk.
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