Ex-football hooligan and grandfather, 61, who went to Ukraine to fight Russian army, has not been heard from for months
- Robert Grady, 61, went to Ukraine in March last year to fight the Russian army
- But he hasn’t been heard from on social media since the posts dried up in August
An ex-football hooligan and grandfather who went to fight in Ukraine has not been heard from for months.
Robert Grady, 61, went to Ukraine in March last year to fight against the Russian army following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the country in February 2022.
After returning to the UK in April last year claiming he was recovering from Covid, Mr Grady appeared to be back in the country, saying he had found a ‘good job’ and fulfilled the ‘dream’ in July fulfilled.
But after saying he couldn’t reveal much about his new job because it was related to “special forces,” Mr Grady has not been heard from since August 2022 after his social media posts dried up.
His last social media post was in August when he changed his Facebook profile picture to a Ukrainian coat of arms on the front of the Scottish saltire.
Robert Grady, 61, went to Ukraine in March last year to fight against the Russian army following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the country in February 2022.
In April 2022, the former Hibernian FC hooligan was captured in video wearing a body armor and holding an assault rifle.
He said, ‘My name is Rob. I am a 61 year old grandfather from Scotland. I traveled to Ukraine to help Ukraine fight the Russians.
I will do everything in my power to save Ukraine from Putin. Everyone in the world please help Ukraine.”
But after a month in the country, he shared on social media that he had returned home and was recovering from Covid.
Months later in July, he posted a photo of himself dressed in camouflage body armor and shorts with an assault rifle.
He said he was “back” in Ukraine in response to people’s comments, with people telling him to “keep up the good work” and “stay safe.”
Mr Grady claimed he got a ‘good job’, but it was related to special forces, so he couldn’t say ‘too much’ in response to some users’ comments.
Months later in July, he posted a photo of himself dressed in camoflauge body armor and shorts with an assault rifle
He said he was “back” in Ukraine in response to people’s comments, with people telling him to “keep up the good work” and “stay safe.” Pictured: Ukrainian military personnel loading an armored vehicle before deploying to the front line of Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Ukraine
His last post was in August, a month after he confirmed he was back in Ukraine and he hasn’t been heard from on social media since.
He changed his profile picture on Facebook to an image of the Scottish Saltire with a Ukrainian coat of arms over it.
Mr Grady built a reputation as a hooligan associated with the Easter Road club from the early 1980s.
He was a member of the Capital City Service (CCS) and was only banned from football in 2014 for taking part in a street brawl following a cup final.
In the summer of last year, a Georgian commander said there were about 3,000 British volunteers in Ukraine fighting against Russia.
Commander estimates are unofficial, but said British volunteers were the second-largest group of foreign fighters, ahead of the US and after Georgia.
The State Department has been approached for comment.