UK fighter was unlawfully killed in Ukraine, coroner rules

A former British soldier who went out to Ukraine to help in the war effort against Russia was unlawfuly killed by a “comrade”, a coroner has found.

Daniel Burke, of Manchester, was assisting Ukrainian armed forces but was murdered outside the theatre of war by someone he knew, his inquest was told.

Manchester Area Coroner, Zak Golombeck, said Mr Burke, 36, “died with bravery and valour and was sadly killed by cowardice and dishonour”.

The suspect in the killing, an Australian national, is wanted by Ukrainian police after fleeing the war-torn country, the court was told.

Abdelfetah ‘Adam’ Nourine, a fighter in the Ukrainian army known as “Jihadi Adam” told Ukrainian police he shot Mr Burke accidentally while the two of them were practising drills 27 miles (44 km) away from the frontline.

The remains of Mr Burke, a former paratrooper, were found buried in an underground pipe at a military training ground in the Zaporizhzhia region.

“Whilst there was evidence initially presented that it was an accident, I reject that based on evidence gathered by Ukrainian authorities and GMP,” Mr Golombeck said

“[Mr Burke] was unarmed and unable to defend himself.”