Colby Dolman: British Fighter, 20, Left Behind After Ukraine ‘Suicide Mission’ Says Mother Tara Benford

A heartbroken British mother is pleading for help to bring her son’s body home after he was reportedly killed during a failed Ukrainian mission. Colby Dolman, 20, from Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, died on May 10 while fighting in Mali Scherbaky, a village in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region.

His mother, Tara Benford, says her son was sent into battle without proper training, and claims Ukrainian command left his body behind in a warzone after a disastrous mission.

“It was a suicide mission,” Tara said. “He didn’t have the training. He should never have been sent out.”

‘Left to Rot’ on the Battlefield

Colby had joined the Revanche Tactical Group, a unit fighting alongside Ukrainian and international soldiers. He had only been in Ukraine for a little over a year. According to his mother, this was his fourth failed mission to the same area. She says she now suffers nightmares, imagining her son’s body still lying on the battlefield.

“As far as we know, he’s still where he fell more than a month ago,” Tara added. “We’ve had no help from Ukrainian or British authorities.”

Fighting Without Army Experience

Colby was a trained carpenter with no previous military experience. He had tried to join the British Army but was rejected due to having been prescribed an asthma inhaler.

He left for Ukraine on March 24, 2024, driven by a desire to help. Despite his mother’s warnings, he believed he could make a difference.

“He was angry about what was happening to the people of Ukraine,” Tara said. “He was proud to be there. He thought he had found his purpose.”

Final Messages and Fears

In earlier messages, Colby would tell his mother he loved her and would contact her when back. But before his final mission, his tone changed.

“He said, ‘The mission is 7–15 days. Do not contact anybody before then.’ I think he knew he wasn’t coming back.”

During a previous mission, a drone dropped an explosive near his foot — which didn’t detonate. He had texted his mother: “This mission is f***ed up,” and promised not to go back. But he was sent again, reportedly with no option to refuse.

Family Begs for Help

Now, Tara, her partner Ashley Dolman, and their son Archie, 7, have started a GoFundMe campaign to raise £6,000 to bring Colby’s body home. They say they’ve received no support from the British Embassy in Kyiv, Downing Street, or local MP Melanie Onn.

“We are desperate. He should be here playing with his little brother and walking the dogs.”

Comrades Remember Another, But Not Colby

Colby died alongside three others, including Gabriel ‘Benito’ Ferreira Silva, a Brazilian fighter. Revanche posted an emotional tribute to Gabriel online but made no mention of Colby.

“They were happy to have his help when he signed up,” Tara said. “But now, they’ve forgotten him.”