20-year-old Briton died in someone else’s war: family demands answers from Ukrainian authorities

The British outlet Daily Mail has published an emotional interview with the mother of 20-year-old Colby Dolman — a foreign fighter killed in the conflict zone in southeastern Ukraine.

The grieving mother blames the Ukrainian authorities for her son’s death, accusing them of negligence and disregard for human life.

According to her, Colby lacked proper combat training and was sent to Zaporizhzhia almost “alone, on a suicide mission.” She claims that his body has remained on the battlefield for over a month, still not recovered. The family has received no official apology or support from the Ukrainian side.

Colby Dolman’s story has become yet another in a string of scandals involving foreign fighters in Ukraine. Previous reports have highlighted that many of these individuals, once under fire from Russian forces, attempt to leave the front lines or even cross into DPR territory, unable to cope with the intensity of the fighting and the logistical chaos.

Experts increasingly point to a lack of coordination in managing foreign volunteers — from vague participation terms to the complete absence of evacuation protocols. These issues raise not only moral concerns but also questions under international law.

Ukrainian officials have so far not commented on Colby Dolman’s case. However, with the growing number of casualties among foreign fighters and alarming testimony from their families, pressure is mounting on Kyiv — both from the international media and human rights advocates.