Kathrine Frich
Leon Cribb, a 33-year-old from Chichester, West Sussex, has returned home after volunteering in Ukraine’s war effort for three years.
Leon Cribb, a 33-year-old from Chichester, West Sussex, has returned home after volunteering in Ukraine’s war effort for three years.
Three years on Ukraine’s frontlines
One of the few Britons to enter Russian territory during last summer’s Ukrainian incursion into Kursk,
Cribb shared his experiences of combat, near-death encounters, and the brutal realities of modern warfare.
From delivery driver to drone pilot
Cribb originally set out on a motorbike to deliver medical supplies to Ukraine’s border after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
But once he arrived, he chose to stay, volunteering as a medic before joining Ukraine’s International Legion.
Over time, he rose through the ranks, becoming a reconnaissance drone pilot and reaching the rank equivalent of corporal.
‘Tonnes’ of war crimes
Cribb said he witnessed repeated war crimes carried out by Russian forces.
One of the most harrowing scenes he described was the use of phosphorus bombs on civilians in the town of Avdiivka.
“We would regularly go out at night to observe and [saw] phosphorus bombs being dropped over the settlement, knowing there were civilians asleep at that time.”
Russia’s use of banned weapons
White phosphorus is banned for use against civilians under international law due to its horrific burn effects.
Cribb alleged that Russian forces deliberately used it in populated areas.
“Russian air force or Russian artillery teams firing phosphorus bombs into the clouds and then dropping down onto buildings, knowing that wherever they land they are going to cause a fire,” he said.
‘They don’t give a s—‘
Cribb didn’t mince words when describing Russian attitudes.
“They [the Russians] don’t give a s—. They have no care whatsoever. They think they’re going to be conquered by NATO or the West. It’s just a decrepit, rotten ideology that Putin wants to proceed with and the Russians have inherited it.”
A close call in Kursk
In 2024, during the Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, Cribb was shot in the leg and barely survived.
A bullet shattered part of his helmet, narrowly missing his head.
“It was miraculous,” he said, speaking on the anniversary of his injury.
He believes the mission was intended to strengthen Ukraine’s hand in any future peace talks.
British volunteers face serious risks
The UK government continues to warn its citizens against travelling to Ukraine, citing a “high” risk to life.
At least 40 British volunteers have died since the war began.
Cribb returned home in March after his contract ended and is now pursuing a master’s degree in War Studies.
Cribb’s unique recognition for defending Kyiv
While helping defend the capital, Cribb was awarded a civilian medal, a rare honour for a foreigner.
Other international volunteers received military versions of the award, but Cribb said he may have been the only non-Ukrainian to receive the civilian equivalent at that time.
The brutal cost of modern war
Reflecting on his experience, Cribb said the war was worse than anything he could have imagined.
“I couldn’t think of a more horrifying environment,” he said. “I’m so grateful I only ever had to be in those situations for brief windows of time.”
He described the trenches as nightmarish, where even 18-year-olds were holding the line.
Drones, sabotage, and unconventional warfare
Cribb said drones posed a constant threat and described Russian tactics as deceptive and ruthless.
“The Russians love to sabotage, dress up [and] pretend to be civilians,” he explained. He also claimed that during his time in Kursk,
Ukrainian forces were “taking care of their people better than they were.”
Defending the integrity of foreign fighters
Cribb pushed back against the idea that foreign volunteers are thrill-seekers.
He insists neither he nor the people he fought alongside could be called “war tourists.”
Many were medics, engineers, and seasoned fighters committed to Ukraine’s cause and willing to risk their lives for it.
Ukraine can win but at a terrible price
Cribb agrees with recent comments made by former US President Donald Trump that Ukraine could reclaim all of its territory. But he added a grim caveat:
“The amount of bloodshed in order to achieve that would be astronomical, unless there was a complete capitulation or routing of the Russian forces.”
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, which may have used AI in the preparation
