Durham University graduate killed by Russian drone while fighting in Ukraine

Jake Waddington was hit by a Russian airstrike on Monday 6th January

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A former Durham University student has been killed by a Russian drone whilst fighting in Ukraine.

Jake Waddington, 34, was killed by a grenade last week whilst gathering intelligence in the Donetsk region, just yards away from a Russian trench.

He was serving a voluntary stint in Ukraine, when he was targeted in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in south-east Ukraine, DailyMail reports.

A second soldier survived the attack on Monday 6th January but remains in a critical condition.

Born in Cambridge, Jake served in the Army as a member of Second Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, before his voluntary stint in Ukraine.

He had previously held the role of Lance Corporal in the Royal Anglican Regiment until he withdrew following an epileptic seizure.

Jake then studied at Durham University, before attempting to enlist at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, but was medically discharged in 2022.

He left the UK originally to work in an animal rescue team operating out of Poland to Ukraine and, from there, he joined Ukraine’s International Legion in 2023. He worked mainly in intelligence roles for over a year and it was during one of these missions that he was killed.

Jake had recently signed a further six month contract to continue fighting and become a unit leader. While never commissioned as an officer, he was awarded an SPS [Staff and Personnel Support] cap badge.

Martyn Cook, his former British Army commander, described Jake as a “really intelligent, thoughtful and considered soldier”.

Another said: “It’s sad, he was a good lad. He was also super reliable and a great help to all those in the troop. It was a real shame he ever got discharged.”