Tom Phillips was the kind of man you’d trust with your life, and many did. A former Royal Artillery gunner from North Wales, he left home, his army career behind him, and eventually his country, to fight in Ukraine. This month, at just 29 years old, he was killed in the war-torn country he’d voluntarily travelled to defend.
Now, friends, fellow soldiers and family are remembering a man they describe as brave, selfless, and deeply committed to helping others, even when that came at great personal cost.
The Foreign Office has confirmed it is “supporting the family of a British man who has died in Ukraine”, though no official details of his death have been released. Those who knew him, however, are painting a vivid picture of a courageous soul who was fighting on the front line and grappling with the hidden toll of war.
From Army Cadet to Foreign Fighter
Tom’s military journey began early. Straight out of school, at just 16, he enrolled at the British Army’s Foundation College in Harrogate. His career in the forces lasted around a decade. But after leaving the military, he made a decision that stunned even his closest friends, to head to Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Josh Kelly, a childhood friend who remained in regular contact with Tom, recalls being blindsided. “I think he probably didn’t want to be dissuaded. So he just didn’t tell anyone until he’d already got his bags packed.”
Kelly, now 28, had known Tom most of his life. He’s launched a GoFundMe campaign to help repatriate his friend’s body and cover funeral costs. The response so far has been a testament to the impact Tom had on so many.
“He dedicated his life to helping others,” Kelly said. “He was the type of person you’d trust your family with. Intelligent, selfless, the kind of guy everyone wanted by their side.”
The Reality of the Front Line
Tom’s experience in Ukraine was no token gesture. A fellow Western fighter who served with him described Tom as “a truly great soldier” who had seen combat across the war zone. The two had fought together in Ukraine’s GUR (military intelligence), and the former comrade recalled Tom’s mix of courage, humility and humour: “Kind, courageous, bold, funny, and humble.”
“He was one of the first foreigners to fight. He had been here since the beginning,” he added.
The front lines were brutal, “trenches, drones, constant mortar fire, rockets,” Kelly said. “I think he was in a special forces unit as well. He would clear areas and do things like that. So he was really involved.”
Despite the violence and the toll, Tom rarely opened up about the strain. But his friends knew the impact had to be profound. “He never really said it took a toll on him, but I can only imagine… anybody human, it would have effects on them.”
A Soldier’s Loyalty, to the End
Last year, Tom briefly returned to the UK, but it wasn’t long before he rejoined the fight. He was driven by a powerful sense of loyalty, to the people he fought alongside, and to the cause he believed in.
“He felt like he wanted to be a part of it,” Kelly said. “He was always trying to help people. He’d found a bond with the lads out there. He didn’t want to leave them.”
Even as a lingering hip injury from his Army days left him in “absolute agony”, his desire to contribute never waned. “I think that took a big toll on him mentally,” Kelly added. “He wanted to be involved, he wanted to be fighting. But he couldn’t, because he couldn’t even walk.”
Tom had been medically discharged from the British Army for that very reason years earlier.
A Life Remembered
Tom’s passing is part of a grim statistic. More than 20 British volunteers are known to have died in Ukraine since the war began. Yet his story, say those who knew him, isn’t just about conflict, it’s about compassion, courage, and conviction.
“He was such a genuine guy,” Kelly said. “This is why it’s having such an impact on everybody. He was a really, really good lad.”
In his GoFundMe tribute, Kelly summed up his friend’s mission: “He travelled to Ukraine to stand up for what he believed in and to do his bit to protect people who couldn’t protect themselves… While he showed bravery most of us can only imagine, the weight of what Tom was experiencing took a heavy toll.”
