'My brother is a hero': Sask. man killed on front line in Ukraine

A Saskatchewan man serving on the Ukrainian front line has been killed by a Russian drone strike, his family says.

Winton "Bud" Hardy had been working in the Donetsk region as a combat medic for the past several weeks, his family said.

"My brother is a hero," his brother, Will, said in an interview from his home in Outlook, Sask. "He is an inspiration to us all. His bravery and willingness to risk his own life, to help innocent people, is more than being a hero. It's something special that needs to be remembered forever."

Will said the family has been grieving since the news came from Canadian government officials, but he couldn't be prouder.

"My brother, he was a man of high standards who always wanted to do what was right.… He was a great person to be around, loved by everyone in the family and community," Will said.

In early spring, Bud told his family he wanted to help liberate Ukraine. Will said his brother had trained in the military cadets as a young man, but their family doesn't have any Ukrainian heritage.

"Naturally, as the younger brother, I thought he was joking. But slowly, over time, he saved his own money and started purchasing his own equipment. It became clear to me he was serious," Will said.

WATCH | Brother of Sask. man killed on Ukrainian front line will remember his bravery: 

Brother of Sask. man killed on Ukrainian front line will remember his bravery

4 months ago

Duration 0:53

Will Hardy said he was worried when his brother, Winton 'Bud' Hardy, left Saskatchewan to serve as a combat medic in Ukraine. Will received word last month that 41-year-old Bud was killed by a bomb released by a Russian drone.

Bud flew to Poland in April. After basic training, the 41-year-old was sent to the front lines to serve as a combat medic.

"He saw what was happening in Ukraine and knew in his heart what was happening was wrong — what's happening to the innocent people in Ukraine is wrong. He wanted to defend the people of Ukraine any way he could," Will said.

Will said he and Bud were in contact daily until June 10. The next day, Will got a phone call from a Canadian government official.

"It's my understanding he was taking heavy enemy fire, along with another Canadian, They were retreating and ultimately got struck by a drone," he said.

Will was told that the bomb released by the Russian drone killed Bud and the other Canadian instantly. When Will got the news, he went out into their Outlook yard and raised a Ukrainian flag alongside their Canadian one.

Will said Bud's body is now in Russian territory, but there's an organization in the region trying to help retrieve the body for them.

The Hardy family is hoping to hold a memorial service in the coming weeks.