An Australian fighter has been killed in Ukraine after travelling to Eastern Europe against his family’s wishes to fight against Russia.
Brock Greenwood, from Rockhampton in central Queensland, has been a volunteer with the Ukrainian International Foreign Legion for the past 15 months.
The 24-year-old’s family were told on Saturday that he had been killed after being hit by Russian artillery fire.
Even though he had no ties to Ukraine and had never held a gun before going to Ukraine, Greenwood was willing to risk his life to help people, his heartbroken family said.
“He sacrificed his life to help others,” sister Kodie Greenwood said 7 News as she tried to hold back her tears.
His mother Cassandra Parker added: ‘I was proud of him, I loved him and I will miss him.’
Mr Greenwood’s decision to travel to Ukraine to fight has previously been condemned by his family, who tried to thwart his original plan to leave Australia.
Mr Parker was living with his mother in Rockhampton when she said they initially thwarted his travel plans to Ukraine by making him ‘miss his flights’.
Brock Greenwood, 24, (pictured) has been a volunteer foreign fighter for the Ukrainian International Foreign Legion for the past 15 months
Brock Greenwood’s grieving sister, Kodie Greenwood (pictured left), and his mother Cassandra Parker (pictured right) tried to stop Parker from traveling to Ukraine.
A few months later, Mr Parker moved to Hervey Bay to live with his father, flying to Melbourne and then on to Poland.
“I found out he was in Poland on April 20 (2023) because someone sent me a picture,” Parker said.
‘The next day he took the train to Kiev.’
Kodie added that her brother was adamant about continuing.
“Even though we stopped him once, he said to me, ‘I’m still going, but I can’t be with you and Mom because you make me feel guilty and make me want to stay. But that’s what I want to do,’” she recalled.
“He was truly selfless. He was willing to risk his life to help people.”
Mr Greenwood, one of five siblings, is known for his “very big heart”.
“He wanted to help. He wanted to make a difference,” his mother said.
Mrs Greenwood said their only concern about her brother’s determination to fight was that he had no military experience.
She said he had never held a gun before he went to Ukraine.
“We were really concerned about that,” she said.
The family of Mr Greenwood (pictured) have set up a GoFundMe to help cover his funeral costs after he was killed while fighting for the Ukrainian International Foreign Legion.
Despite having no military experience, Greenwood is believed to have excelled during his training and was assigned to lead a team of foreign fighters.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reportedly providing consular assistance to the family.
Australians are being advised against travelling to Ukraine after the federal government issued a ‘do not travel’ advisory for the war-torn country.
Mr. Greenwood’s family has a GoFundMe to raise money so the family could give him the farewell he deserves.
“A much loved and missed son, grandson, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, friend and lover,” the page reads.