‘Hero’ Brit drone fighter, 33, killed defending Ukraine as grieving comrades hug flag-draped coffin in emotional funeral

A "HERO" Brit drone fighter was tragically killed defending Ukraine against the Russian occupation.

Tributes are pouring in for Benjamin Leo Burgess, 33, who served on the frontline for three years and died in combat.

Burgess, from Portsmouth, first served in Zaporizhzhia with Ukraine's artillery regiment before becoming an FPV drone pilot.

He had formerly served in the British army.

A funeral attended by 40 people, including family and friends, was held at Kyiv’s main crematorium for the Brit volunteer fighter.

Russian sources had earlier claimed the Burgess, whose call sign was Budgie, had been “eliminated”.

He is understood to have been killed in  Andreevka, in Ukraine’s Sumy region.

Fellow soldiers said Burgess was a hero and was among the "best pilots we had."

Another Brit soldier - identified only by his call sign Azrael - said: “A lot of people come to Ukraine for different reasons, but Budgie definitely came for the belief that Ukraine deserves to be free.

“And he was willing to fight for that. And he did.

“He fought well, fought bravely, and ultimately was killed doing that.”

Azrael, from Ukraine's 78th airborne assault regiment, said Burgess' death was his biggest loss.

He added: "We were the last two foreign fighters in our regiment.

“He was my family here. I’ve lost many friends in this war – he’s my biggest loss.”

The "hero" fighter was given a funeral at the heart of Kyiv city.

Emotional pictures show Burgess' coffin draped with the British and Ukrainian flags.

Family and friends, as well as fellow soldiers, were seen standing together as flowers and roses were laid gently on top of his casket.

Local Ukrainians left emotional messages for Burgess at Kyiv's Maidan Square.

One of the messages read: "Thank you for protecting."

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office told The Sun: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Ukraine and are in contact with the local authorities."

It comes after a Brit Hurt Locker hero was killed in an explosion on Ukraine's frontline.

Brave Chris Garrett, 40, was catastrophically wounded in May trying to clear minefields in Izyum, near Kharkiv.

The bomb disposal expert - once dubbed public enemy number one by Russia, spent the war risking his life to help secure Ukraine's path to victory.

From the moment Russia invaded in February 2022 he dedicated himself to blowing up thousands of artillery shells and live ammunition dumped by Vladimir Putin's retreating troops.

Courageous Chris, known to pals as Swampy because of his past life as a tree surgeon, jetted to Ukraine four days after Russia's botched invasion began on February 24.

His pal and former prisoner of war Shaun Piner said: "It has now been confirmed that two of the three critically injured individuals have sadly passed away. 

"I can confirm that Chris was among those who died. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected."