- For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see https://www.samaritans.org/ for details for details
A former British soldier who fought for Ukraine killed himself after being left in agonising pain from injuries he sustained, an inquest heard today.
Tom Phillips, 29, from Colwyn Bay in North Wales, joined the International Battalion after Russia invaded the country and became a sniper and team leader.
Tragically he was found dead in his apartment in the city of Kharkiv on May 21 last year, having shot himself with a handgun.
His friend Gareth Haynes, formerly of the Grenadier Guards, told the hearing Mr Phillips received no help from the Ukraine authorities.
‘He was failed by the Ukraine military,’ he said.
According to a friend who set up an online fundraiser following his death, Mr Phillips went to Ukraine ‘to stand up for what he believed in and do his bit to protect people who couldn’t protect themselves’.
The inquest in Ruthin heard that in addition to being in physical pain Mr Phillips had mental health problems.
In a statement read at the hearing, his mother Sasha Hayter said he joined the Royal Artillery at the age of 16 after leaving Eirias High School in Colwyn Bay.
Tom Phillips – who ‘loved animals’, according to an online fundraiser set up after his death – signed up to fight for Ukraine after being discharged from the British Army with a hip injury
Tom Phillips (pictured at home in North Wales) couldn’t ‘settle’ into civilian life after leaving the Army, his mother said
But he was discharged in 2022 after suffering a hip injury.
He couldn’t settle into any other jobs and his mother said: ‘The Army was all he knew.’
Mr Phillips joined the International Legion in Ukraine in 2023 and Mrs Hayter told the inquest: ‘He absolutely loved it.’
He became a team commander, also working on reconnaissance, but broke a bone in his back, which caused him physical and mental problems.
After his death, a GoFundMe appeal was launched to cover repatriation of his body and a funeral as the Ukraine government would not meet the cost because he did not die in action.
On the appeal, organiser Joshua Kelly wrote: ‘Tom was a big softy at heart.
‘He loved animals, especially cats and dogs.
‘And had this way of lighting up every room he walked into without saying many words.
‘He always kept fit, set examples of how to act and always looked out for the people around him.
‘He was one of life’s genuinely good people, and he’s going to be missed more than can be described and will always be with us in our hearts.’
Mr Kelly said his friend ‘travelled to Ukraine on his own accord, wanting to stand up for what he believed in and 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.
‘Tragically he was not able deal with the pain he was experiencing anymore and he lost his battle with mental health, far away from home and the people who loved him.’
The appeal raised more than £20,000.
Recording a conclusion of suicide, John Gittins, Senior Coroner for North Wales East and Central, told his parents: ‘You must be incredibly proud of your son.’
– For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see https://www.samaritans.org/ for details for details.