Giacomo Lopresti, 55, moved to Kiev after losing his seat in last year’s Tory wipeout, the newspaper has reported
A 55-year-old former British lawmaker has joined the Ukrainian military following the loss of his parliamentary seat during last year’s election, The Independent reported on Sunday. Giacomo ‘Jack’ Lopresti, a former Conservative MP who represented the constituency of Filton and Bradley Stoke in Gloucestershire, is now based in Kiev, according to the newspaper.
Ukraine has been recruiting foreign fighters since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022. Its armed forces are grappling with desertion and battlefield losses.
With prior experience as a corporal in the UK Army Reserve, Lopresti is “using his skills” to contribute to Ukraine’s war effort against Russia, the report said. He traveled to the country in November, months after the Tory wipeout in last June’s election, and has since joined Kiev’s International Legion, the military unit dedicated to foreign fighters.
His current duties reportedly include foreign relations and diplomacy, weapons procurement, and working with veterans and charities operating in Ukraine. Lopresti expects a promotion to an officer’s position after Kiev allowed foreign nationals to ascend beyond non-commissioned ranks.
Speaking to The Independent, Lopresti expressed optimism about Ukraine’s prospects, claiming that troop morale remains high. This stands in stark contrast to media reports that the Ukrainian military is undermined by staggering desertion rates and exhaustion from fighting. Many Ukrainian citizens subject to forced conscription harbor fears of near-certain death on the front line, The Guardian said last week.
Kiev is grappling with a funding crisis after US President Donald Trump ordered a review of most foreign assistance programs for possible waste and graft. While military aid for Ukraine was reportedly unaffected, the US president has urged European members of NATO to shoulder a greater part of the burden.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky claimed over the weekend that he does not know where most of the reported $200 billion of US military assistance has gone. “In reality, we received about $76 billion. It’s significant aid, but it’s not $200 billion,” he told the Associated Press.
Russia considers foreign nationals fighting for Kiev as mercenaries, designating them legitimate targets on the battlefield and subject for prosecution. Western media often portray compatriots killed in the Ukraine conflict as selfless volunteers.
Earlier this month, Jake Waddington, 34, a former member of the Royal Anglian Regiment, was reportedly killed during a reconnaissance mission for Kiev. Waddington went to Ukraine after a medical condition barred him from serving in the British military.
