Exclusive:'I'm a normal working class Yorkshire lad - now I've joined the Russian Army to fight for Putin in Ukraine'
A self-proclaimed “Yorkshire lad” has claimed he has joined the Russian Army and is going to fight for Vladimir Putin in Ukraine.
Bradley Townsend, from Barnsley, appeared in video with two Britons - Ben Stimson, 49, and Aiden Minnis, 39 - who have been given Russian citizenship for fighting in the occupied Donbas region.
In the footage, which appears to have been filmed in Russia or eastern Ukraine, Townsend said he has accepted “that I wouldn’t be able to go home, I’d definitely get persecuted if I went back”.
He described himself as “a normal working class lad from Yorkshire”, but expressed concern when told that he may get “injured or worse” while volunteering for the Russian Army.
“It is worrying, I’m not here for a suicide mission but I understand that’s what can happen,” he said.
When asked if he has a message for his family, he said: “This was my own decision and I was not pushed into anything and I hope everything’s alright at home.”
Townsend, who attended Barnsley College, revealed that he was first interested in the Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014.
That year, Russian forces annexed Crimea, which marked the start of the conflict in Ukraine, ahead of the full-blown invasion in 2022.
The Donbas is the eastern region of Ukraine, which borders Russia and incorporates the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Putin has held sham referendums in these provinces, claiming the people wish to secede to Russia.
However, the last census found the Donbas was 58 per cent Ukrainian and 38 per cent Russian.
Townsend said: “In 2014, when everything happened then I didn’t really know much about politics, especially geopolitics, but I heard about separatists in Donbas, and I didn’t think much of it but I thought if they want to be separate why not let them?”
He added that he started getting more interested after Putin’s invasion in 2022.
He claimed the way the war has been portrayed in the UK, “they’ve been completely brainwashed”.
Townsend added that he doesn’t “think people realise that in the West just how bad it can be” for Russians with the war.
He appeared in the video with Stimson, from Oldham, and Minnis, from Chippenham, who have been described as “traitors” for fighting for Russia.
Stimson was previously jailed in the UK for terror offences for joining pro-Russian separatists, and flew back to Russia in 2024 to fight again.
He has been awarded a Russian passport by the Kremlin, and is preparing to give up his British citizenship.
Minnis, who had a string of convictions in the UK, has also relocated to Russia and has renounced his British citizenship.
He recorded a video last year setting fire to his passport, saying: “F*** you Great Britain,” and “Glory to Russia,” while firing a rifle in the air.
The pair are believed to have been the first British nationals that have fought for Putin.
Foreign Office advice says: “If you travel to Russia to join the Russian army, or to help others engaged in the war with Ukraine, you could be breaking UK laws. You could be prosecuted when you return to the UK.”