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A British man fighting for Ukraine has been named by friends and family as Jonathan Shenkin, a father of two from Glasgow.
In a tribute on social media, Mr Shenkin’s family said the 45-year-old ‘died as a hero in an act of bravery as a paramedic’.
He is one of eight Britons known to have died fighting in Ukraine since the Russian invasion last year.
Mr Shenkin’s brother, Daniel, wrote on Facebook that he died in Ukraine in December.
The Foreign Office said it was supporting his family. The UK Government continues to advise against all travel to Ukraine.
Jonathan Shenkin, a 45-year-old from Glasgow, died in Ukraine in December, according to a family tribute
Daniel Shenkin wrote: ‘On enlisting in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he made the ultimate sacrifice to defend values we all believe in.
‘He is survived by his son and daughter, to whom he was devoted.’
The tribute described how Mr Shenkin had spent much of his life ‘helping others’.
Born and raised in Glasgow, he lived briefly in London and Malta before enrolling in the Israeli Army.
Afterwards he set up his own security business that saw him go on two tours of Iraq and worked for a variety of organisations including the US Department of Defense and NATO.
He also worked for the UN in Afghanistan, served as a military medic in Oman and carried out close protection roles in Somalia and Angola.
In 2009, he was involved in the rescue of an American held hostage in the West Bank.
Mr Shenkin – pictured here during his service in Ukraine – ‘died as a hero in an act of bravery as a paramedic’
The Brit he set up his own security business that saw him go on two tours of Iraq and worked for a variety of organisations including the US Department of Defense and NATO
Daniel Shenkin’s tribute added: ‘As well as volunteering his skills during natural disasters in the Philippines, he devoted much of his time to good causes.;
‘His hard work and contributions resulted in multiple awards from various Philippine government authorities for training hand-to-hand combat, close protection and firearms.
‘He trained the Special Forces in both the Philippines and South Korea, marines in Kabul, Drug Enforcement Agencies, The Philippine Bureau of Investigation, the military and the police in multiple countries.
Daniel said his brother had ‘a lifelong passion for Israel, contribution to the Philippines and fighting for democratic values’.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British national who died in Ukraine, and are in contact with the local authorities’.
Since the war began in February last year, numerous people have travelled from the UK – with some taking part in fighting against Russian forces while others engage in volunteering and aid work.
In January, British nationals Andrew Bagshaw and Christopher Parry were killed in eastern Ukraine while attempting a ‘humanitarian evacuation’ after going missing near the town of Soledar in Donetsk.
Mr Bagshaw’s family said in a statement the men’s car was hit by an artillery shell while attempting to rescue an elderly woman.
In January, British nationals Andrew Bagshaw and Christopher Parry were killed in eastern Ukraine while attempting a ‘humanitarian evacuation’ after going missing near the town of Soledar in Donetsk
Volunteer soldier 36-year-old Scott Sibley (pictured) was killed fighting Russian troops in April
The men’s bodies were returned to Britain as part of a prisoner swap of 179 prisoners between Ukraine and Russia, returning 116 Ukrainians and 63 Russian prisoner of wars back to their respective countries.
In a statement issued by the UK Foreign Office last month, Mr Parry’s family said his ‘selfless determination in helping the old, young and disadvantaged’ in Ukraine had made them ‘extremely proud’.
‘We never imagined we would be saying goodbye to Chris when he had such a full life ahead of him. He was a caring son, fantastic brother, a best friend to so many and a loving partner to Olga,’ they said.
They added that Mr Parry, originally from Truro in Cornwall, ‘found himself drawn to Ukraine in March in its darkest hour at the start of the Russian invasion and helped those most in need, saving over 400 lives plus many abandoned animals.’
Scientific researcher Mr Bagshaw was a British national but lived in New Zealand.
His family said: ‘Andrew selflessly took many personal risks and saved many lives; we love him and are very proud indeed of what he did.
‘The world needs to be strong and stand with Ukraine, giving them the military support they need now, and help to rebuild their shattered country after the war.’
In November, father-of-two Simon Lingard died after travelling to fight in Ukraine.
A woman stops shovelling snow as a Ukrainian armoured personnel carrier (APC) passes by her house in the eastern city of Chasiv Yar yesterday
Lingard, known as ‘Grimmy’ and described by friends as a ‘warrior’, is believed to have been fighting alongside Ukrainian troops on the front line for months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
Soldiers Jordan Gatley, 24, was shot dead in the city of Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine in June while Scott Sibley, 36, died in southern Ukraine in April after a drone dropped mortars on his regiment.
Medics Craig Mackintosh and Paul Urey were killed in the summer while volunteering in Ukraine.
Mr Shenkin’s death comes as the British government announced a national one-minute silence to be held on Friday February 24, which will mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion on Ukraine.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to lead a one-minute silence at 11am and the governmentsaid it encourages individuals and organisations across Britain to participate.
February 24 marks the start of what Russia has called a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine, an ongoing conflict which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of Ukrainians.
Mr Sunak said in a statement: ‘As we approach the anniversary of Russia’s barbaric and deplorable invasion of Ukraine, as a nation we pay tribute to the incredible bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people.
‘Russia’s unjustifiable attack brought war and destruction to our continent once again, and it has forced millions from their homes and devastated families across Ukraine and Russia.’
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