BRITISH Gen Z gamers are becoming drone pilots in Ukraine to fight against Russian forces – with the help of a former Royal Marine.
The Navy veteran, in his 60s, is helping to select and train volunteers from around the world – including many young Brits – who have flown out to join the fight against Vladimir Putin's forces, following the invasion three years ago.
Battle worth millions of pounds can be destroyed by kamikaze costing less than £400 each.
Drones being used by Ukrainian forces earlier this month in revenge for a deadly , which callously killed 34 – including civilians and two children.
The ranks have been swelled by gamers whose computer skills and hand-eye coordination honed on games such as and make them ideal drone operators, according to ex-Marine “Grim” from Ukraine's 25th Airborne Brigade.
Grim, who has asked not to be pictured and only identified by his call sign for security reasons, told The Sun: “I think the hand-eye coordination that they have gathered and accrued over years of playing computer games and PlayStations certainly lends itself to this type of warfare.
“From America and the UK to Sweden, Slovakia and Colombia – [they come from] all over.
“There isn’t one particular profile, but they tend to be younger and they tend to have computer skills which lend themselves to flying FPV (first-person view) drones, including having done FPV work before in their own countries.”;
One recruit is a politics graduate from who served with the British Army – and uses the call sign “Cowboy”;.
“I decided to come to Ukraine because this is something I have cared about for a long time,”; said the 25-year-old.
“I focused my master's degree on this topic, and I want to be someone who works for what they believe in.
“At the 25th, I have found many determined individuals from across the world all working together for victory.”;
Grim – who did tours of and during his military career – “fell in love”; with the Ukrainian people when he delivered humanitarian aid to the country last year.
“I was given the opportunity to drive in a convoy to Ukraine bringing aid to the people here,”; said Grim, 66.
“From that, I fell in love with the people, and I’m fully behind the cause.
“I’ve done a number of jobs out here, including a further two convoys, and working for a charity in the Kharkiv region.
“I was then given the opportunity to work as a training support and admin advisor with the 25th Brigade, which is where I am now.”;
Would-be pilots, many of them , are met at a secret location in Ukraine by Grim after travelling independently to the country.
Only the best get through… and ultimately they could get killed on the front line.”;
They undergo a two-week selection course, which is used to identify the best pilots, navigators and engineers.
“My job is to provide training support. I have got a lot of experience in the military writing training programmes, overseeing training. That’s my input here,” he said.
While drone operators can work away from the front line, their job is not without risk.
Grim said: “They’ll go on rotation to the front line. There’s a risk.
“They do a selection course, which is pretty tough. Only the best get through. They then go on to do basic training, and they then become a member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and ultimately they could get killed on the front line.”;
Volunteers who join the 25th Airborne Brigade are driven by the desire to help Ukraine maintain its , according to Grim.
‘They know the risks'
“That’s the common thing [belief in Ukraine’s sovereignty],”; said Grim. “They’re intelligent, and fully know the risks.
“They are fully behind the cause of a country which has had an unjust and illegal invasion, and fully believe in the sovereignty of Ukraine.”;
Volunteers who pass the selection process are invited to sign six-month contracts as soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces before attending a six-week training course.
Men and women aged 18 to 45 are allowed to sign up and military or combat experience is not required, according to the regiment's website, which is calling for volunteers to sign up as medics, snipers and anti-tank specialists as well as UAV operators.
The British government advises against people enlisting in the Ukrainian armed forces and state that those who do could be prosecuted on their return.
They also warn that Brits who have joined up have been “killed or captured”.
Fallen heroes
British teenage , 18, was killed minutes into his first mission in Ukraine by a Russian drone, The Sun exclusively revealed back in February.
James, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, was killed last July just months after he'd flown out to join the Ukrainian war effort aged just 17.
Former Royal Welsh Fusilier , who went awol from the army to fight in Ukraine also died on the frontlines earlier this year.
He joined the Ukrainian forces soon after the invasion in 2022 but was jailed on his return to the UK, before returning to the frontlines after serving eight months of his sentence.
Back in February, another former soldier fighting for Ukraine, , 39, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, was reported to have been killed in action fighting Putin's forces, according to Russian media.
They are feared to be among many more who have died or been captured in Ukraine.
Government warning
“If you travel to Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the war, your activities may amount to offences under UK legislation. You could be prosecuted on your return to the UK,” the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office state on their website.
“Since 18 May 2024, British nationals who join the International Legion or Ukraine Armed Forces have to serve at least six months and are not allowed to leave Ukraine during this period.
“British nationals fighting in Ukraine have been killed or captured. British nationals undertaking humanitarian work have also been detained by Russian authorities. The risk to life, or of maltreatment, is high.
“The British Government’s ability to support you in these circumstances is very limited. It cannot facilitate your departure from Ukraine, your medical repatriation, or termination of your military contract.”
Meanwhile, as the bloody war rages on, hopes for a ceasefire appear to be fading as Putin refuses to let up his attacks.
The Sumy strike on April 13 – in which Russia deliberately targeted civilians – was one of the most horrific since the conflict began.
A huge missile measuring over 20 feet was fired into the town centre as people were returning from church on Palm Sunday.
Another missile followed minutes later which scattered explosives over rescue workers in a bid to cause maximum carnage.
World leaders widely condemned the attack as a “war crime” with US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce warning: “There will be no negotiations, no decisions, no agreements until this carnage stops.”
