British man who joined Russian army after alleged deportation threat missing in Ukraine

Nathan Stobbart moved from Newcastle to Russia in December 2024 to live with his Russian partner, Ksenia, whom he had met online. The couple married and had a son together.

Stobbart joined the Russian army in April 2025 without telling his family in Britain. His mother, Valerie Stobbart, believed he was working as an electrical contractor until Ksenia informed her in December that he had disappeared while serving in the military.

According to Valerie, Ksenia told her that Russian authorities had threatened to deny Nathan permission to remain in the country and deport him unless he signed a one-year military contract. The BBC did not independently establish the circumstances of the alleged threat.

“He was so desperate to stay with his family he would do anything,” Valerie said.

The BBC reviewed a Russian military document showing that Stobbart's unit officially declared him missing in action on December 12. His body has not been found.

Valerie said she condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine and disagrees with her son's decision to fight for Moscow, but believes he faced the prospect of leaving his wife and newborn child behind.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it was aware of reports that a British national had gone missing after fighting for Russia and was in contact with his family. It warned that its ability to provide consular assistance in Russia was severely limited.

Valerie's attempts to find her son also cost her job, she told the BBC. She said she was dismissed from her position at the UK Home Office after contacting a journalist who had visited a Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camp in the hope of finding information about Nathan. The Home Office declined to comment on the individual employment case.

Nine months after his disappearance, Valerie continues searching for information and hopes her son may still be alive in Ukrainian captivity.

“Every single day I think my phone could go and somebody somewhere is going to say 'we've found him',” she said.