From London Roofer to Ukrainian Frontline Fighter
Nathan Long had never handled a firearm before making the life-altering decision to volunteer for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion. The 30-year-old south Londoner was among thousands of international recruits who flooded into Ukraine's eastern front last year, anticipating a Spring offensive from Vladimir Putin's forces.
Leaving behind his comfortable existence as a roofer, where his primary concern had been London's ULEZ expansion, Nathan embarked on a journey to a warzone 1,500 miles away. His motivation was straightforward: to halt Putin's advance before it became irreversible.
A Father's Difficult Choice
Despite recently becoming a father, Nathan found himself constantly thinking about Ukraine after witnessing news footage of terrified civilians hiding from missile strikes. "I'd rather it said on my gravestone I tried to do something rather than tell my son I didn't as missiles rain down on Europe," the father-of-one explained. "It was hard to leave him but I needed him to know good people can make a difference."
After a brief WhatsApp interview with a recruiter, Nathan departed within two weeks, leaving personal mementoes for his son before boarding a plane to Kyiv for medical evaluation. His first reality check came immediately, spending his initial night in the capital's metro system躲避俄罗斯无人机袭击.
Grueling Training and International Comrades
The medical examination proved surprisingly simple. "The doctor literally extended my limbs, checked they all worked and then passed me as fit to fight," Nathan recalled. He received a rifle and a flak jacket featuring both Union Jack and Ukrainian flag designs before being dispatched to a training camp two hours outside Kyiv.
Training exceeded his expectations in difficulty. Nathan endured 30-kilometer marches carrying supplies until near-collapse. "When I told my commander that I needed to eat, he made me strip and clean my rifle instead, so I missed meal time," he revealed. His first culinary battle involved consuming "vile" fish, pork and boiled egg rations.
Fellow recruits hailed from Zambia to Brazil, collectively learning to identify Russian booby traps and master rifle reloading—a challenge for Nathan due to his "short arms." The multinational team bonded during -5°C nights sleeping in foxholes, utilizing each other's body warmth for survival.
Battlefield Horrors and Personal Loss
Nathan's first injury occurred during trench training when he dislocated his shoulder. While recovering with painkillers, two British comrades—a Scottish man and someone from Sheffield—brought him ice cream to soothe his throat.
Now a battle-hardened veteran, Nathan has experienced profound personal transformation through losing close friends. He described his first encounter with Russian troops during a forest ambush near Kharkiv, navigating what soldiers called "the killzone"—a two-kilometer stretch littered with land mines, unexploded bombs, and constantly monitored by camera drones.
Passing foxholes containing remains of fallen comrades, Nathan offered quick prayers before advancing. "He was a sound guy, brave and loyal," Nathan said of one friend killed by explosion. "He asked me to introduce him to a nice English girl one day. I still read our messages to help me remember the Spanish commands he taught me."
No Regrets Despite Dangers
When asked about regrets, Nathan remained adamant. "I have people here I would consider family more so than my own back home," he explained, describing the dark humor that sustains soldiers even in dire situations.
He recounted being mistakenly reported dead after getting separated from his unit. "They were shocked when I came back," Nathan said. "I told them 'you can only kill a spider with a slipper, not drones or artillery.' They just looked at me like I was mad."
Nathan doesn't mind being publicly identified despite being doxxed by TrackaNazi, a Russian Telegram account exposing Western recruits. Foreign fighter kills are highly valued by Russian forces as battlefield casualties approach two million.
Longing for Home Amidst Conflict
What Nathan misses most about England, besides his son and sister, are simple pleasures: "a full English breakfast and a good cup of tea." He receives occasional parcels of Yorkshire Tea bags that "run out so quickly" and encounters bewilderment from Ukrainians when adding milk to tea.
Regarding local reception, Nathan noted most Ukrainians are "very hospitable" though some pro-Soviet citizens disapprove of foreign fighters.
Criticism of Western Support
With Russian air strikes pounding Kyiv regularly since February 2022, Nathan sees no imminent end to fighting and criticizes Western allies. "Western support has fallen short of what is truly needed," he asserted. "Delays and hesitation come at a terrible cost. I have lost numerous friends in this war—people whose lives were stolen not by fate, but by aggression."
"We fight drones now, not men with guns," Nathan added. "I hope one day that the rest of the world will never endure what we have here."
Oleksii Bezhevets, a Ukrainian Ministry of Defence recruitment representative, confirmed increased British volunteer numbers. "Some British fighters have had all the army training already in the UK but they come here to get real action," he observed. "They felt like they had just been playing soldiers before coming to Ukraine."
The UK Foreign Office warns Britons traveling to Ukraine for combat could face prosecution upon return if suspected of criminal offenses or threatening national security. A spokesman emphasized limited government ability to assist with departure, medical repatriation, or contract termination, noting "the risk to life, or of maltreatment, is high."
