A British teenager who signed up to fight in Ukraine was only tragically killed by a Russian drone in his first mission on the front line.
James Wilton, only 18 years old, died on his very first mission after he was chased by three fatal drones in an open field with nowhere to hide.
The young recruit had flown from Manchester to Ukraine four months earlier, determined to be against the invasion of Russia- even though he had no previous military experience.
James had joined a small team of international hunters who deliver supplies to the front line in July.
But the mission quickly turned into a nightmare when Russian drones saw them crossing without coverage.
James 'best friend Jason tragically reminded himself of the incident that the teenagers' life claimed as his 'first and last mission'.
Jason – an American volunteer who lost his left foot in a later battle – said that the group of six soldiers was driving in groups of two, 20 meters apart with heavy 60 kilos packages.
“I could see that he was scared and I was scared, but I told him it would be fine,” he told the sun.
Recruitment of the 'Alcatraz' appraisal battalion consisting of former prisoners prepare for medical and trench training in Donetsk Oblast on January 31, 2025
Soldiers from the 68th brigade of the Ukrainian army take a break to have a meal during military training in the Donbas region, Ukraine on January 29, 2025
When James stopped in front of him, Jason saw the drone flying above them.
Jason said, “I shouted at him,” We have to move, we have to move! ” Then the drone moved and started floating 20 meters above me. '
According to Jason, the drones floated over them and forced the young Brit to make a desperate decision – for safety or stand and fight.
He sprinted, but the drone followed him and hit just 30 meters from the Geul line where safety was.
“When the drone was on him, James never made a chance,” he said.
His grieving father Graham Wilton admitted that he had begged his son not to go, but James was on his mission.
“He wanted to help Ukraine,” said Graham The Sun. “I wish we could have exchange place because he had his entire life for him.”
James had joined a small team of international hunters who deliver supplies to the front line in July.
James' death was not reported for months, so that his family grieved privately
Ukrainian soldiers of 43rd Brigade work on a Soviet era pawn Self pushed Houwisser in the direction of Chasiv Yar, Ukraine on January 27, 2025
But the mission quickly turned into a nightmare when Russian drones saw them crossing without coverage.
His best friend Jason, an American voluntary hunter, was with him then. He described the terrifying moment they realized that they were being hunted.
The death of James did not have been reported for months, so his family had a private mourning.
His father, a commercial law assistant from Huddersfield, traveled to Ukraine to attend his son's cremation, where he met Jason and the other foreign hunters who had fought next to him.
Speaking of the loss of his son, Graham said: “It took time to process, but I think it knows important people about James' sacrifice.”
James' mother Kerrie-Anne, 44, had desperately tried to stop him to travel to Ukraine, but he had already made a decision.
His father was the one who drove him to Manchester Airport for his journey to the war zone.
Jason, who later lost his foot after walking on a land mine, has since returned to Ukraine for rehabilitation.
Despite his injuries, he refuses to leave the war zone, still driven by the loss of his friend.
“I knew James would be a lifelong friend,” he said. “Now he is gone, and everything I have his memories.”
James had no formal military training before he came to the 2nd international legion of Ukraine, but he quickly adapts.
His team saw him as a younger brother, wanted to prove.
James Wilton, only 18 years old, died on his very first mission after he was chased by three fatal drones in an open field with nowhere to hide. Shown: This special battalion, Alcatraz, was made as part of the 93rd separate mechanized brigade 'Kholodnyi Yar'
His father is now considering returning to Ukraine to spread the ashes of his son – a final tribute to the teenager who gave everything for a goal in which he believed.
It comes when a British care provider lost a arm and a leg after a Russian drone attack in the east of Ukraine.
Ed Scott, from Shatesbury, in Dorset, citizens evacuated just 5 km from the front line on Thursday when a Kamikaze drone attacked the civilian marked van that he was driving.
The 28-year-old, who became the victim of the impact, was taken to the hospital in a serious condition while being kept alive by a colleague, but doctors were forced to amputate his left leg and arm.
Last Moth, an ex-British army sniper was killed in Ukraine after being sacrificed that he was shot by a Russian drone in an attempt to save his fellow soldiers.
Former Royal Welsh Fusilier Alexander Garms-Rizzi, 23, placed himself as a 'bait' in an attempt to distract three of his Ukrainian troops that were shot in the battle.
Brave Alexander was then fatally hit by a Russian drone in 'No Man's Land' among fighting parties while trying to save his comrades by running in circles while rushing to a nearby bunker.
And in November a British volunteer was tragically killed during the fighting forces of Vladimir Putin in Ukraine.
Callum Tindal-Draper, 22, from Gunnislake, Cornwall, was killed in action on November 5, while he served with the foreign voluntary platoon in the war against Russia incoming.
His family was told that Callum died while defending an observation point when it was the target of the Russian troops.
