More than 150 former British paratroopers who fought in Afghanistan are now on their way to Ukraine to battle Putin's forces - after Army chiefs banned serving UK soldiers from war zone
- More than 150 former paratroopers understood to be travelling to Ukraine
- British soldiers have been banned from joining Ukraine in fight against Russia
- Hundreds of troops said to have expressed an interest in travelling to Kyiv
- Internal message tells soldiers 'you are not authorised to travel to Ukraine'
More than 150 British ex paratroopers who fought in Afghanistan are now on their way to Ukraine to battle Putin's forces - after Army chiefs banned serving UK soldiers from the warzone.
Whitehall officials are scrambling to determine the Government's policy after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she would support British nationals who chose to fight alongside Ukrainian forces against the Russian invasion on Sunday.
Her comments went against Foreign Office travel advice, while Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and a No 10 spokesman also both appeared to contradict Ms Truss yesterday.
Hundreds of troops have expressed interest in answering a request from Kyiv for international volunteers, it is believed, but commanders have told them not to sign up.
They cannot stop retired personnel from travelling to eastern Europe, but full-time and reserve troops have received a stern warning not to take part in the conflict.
Shaun Pinner, 48, (pictured) is one of many UK nationals who have travelled to Ukraine to fight
A Ukrainian serviceman fires an NLAW anti-tank weapon during an exercise in the Donetsk region earlier this month
Ukrainian Military Forces walk in the small town of Sievierodonetsk, Lugansk Oblast, on Sunday
A serviceman of pro-Russian militia stands next to a house that caught fire after shelling on Monday
One brigadier said he heard talk that some soldiers were considering going Awol to join the fight, The Times reports.
But a post on the Army’s internal messaging service read: ‘There has been some recent media coverage relating to foreigners being welcomed into Ukraine to help fight against Russia.
'To be clear, as members of the British Army, you are not authorised to travel to Ukraine to support the ongoing conflict against Russia in any form, whether you are on leave or not.
‘Please remain professional and focused on your duty and your team.’
Despite this, a military source has said that 150 of former paratroopers were on their way to Poland.
Shane, 34, a former sniper with the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, said Ms Truss' comments on Sunday were 'the green light'
Ukraine’s president Volodomyr Zelensky said he was forming his country’s own foreign legion to fight Russia.
Several thousand people have volunteered to join the force, deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said yesterday.
Military surplus stores have been overrun with Ukrainian expats sourcing gear for recruits heading to join the fight.
Ukrainian soldiers walk at Kyiv central train station last week ahead of an ongoing battle with Russia
At the Ukrainian embassy in London yesterday, one 60-year-old English ex-soldier, who did not give his name, vowed to join the fight.
He told Sky News: ‘I used to be in the TA so I’ve got a lot of first aid training so I thought it would be a good idea to come and do something. I can get on a flight tomorrow.
‘I’m 60 which means I’m just about within the age range they’ll accept.’
Asked if he would put his life on the line, he said: ‘Well somebody has to.’
Shaun Pinner, 48, an ex-soldier with a Ukrainian wife who is already on the front lines, and Antony Zamparelli, a father-of-seven who served in the Army but has never been in a conflict, are among those from the UK to have said they will fight.
But Mr Wallace insisted yesterday: ‘Unless you are properly trained, unless you are an experienced member of the armed forces, there are better ways for you to contribute to the security of Ukraine.’
Oleksander Biletsky, a foreign ministry adviser, says weapons were being distributed to anyone who wanted to fight for Ukraine.
He told British soldiers it was 'really cool [of you]' to support his country.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has urged only ‘properly trained’ UK nationals to join the cause in Ukraine
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (pictured) said she would support British nationals who chose to fight alongside Ukrainian forces against the Russian invasion on Sunday
It comes amid concern that over whether those who decide to travel to Ukraine will be charged with terrorism offences if they return.
During the Syrian civil war in 2014, the Crown Prosecution Service warned those going out to fight that they could be committing an offence.
Its guidance adds that Britons who travel overseas to participate in fighting 'may be caught by the provisions of section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000'.
His warning came 24 hours after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss welcomed those joining the ‘struggle’.
Mr Wallace insisted: ‘Unless you are properly trained, unless you are an experienced member of the armed forces, there are better ways for you to contribute to the security of Ukraine.’
Downing Street also effectively contradicted Miss Truss yesterday.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘The best way we can help Ukraine right now is by ensuring Putin fails.
There are a number of ways Brits can show their support for that, and the Ukrainian embassy in London is putting out information about how the British can support them.
‘We fully recognise the strength of feeling about British people wanting to support the Ukrainians following the Russian invasion.
'There’s advice up on travelling to Ukraine, we currently advise against travel to Ukraine.’
At the Ukrainian embassy in London yesterday, one 60-year-old English ex-soldier, who did not give his name, vowed to join the fight.
He told Sky News: ‘I used to be in the TA so I’ve got a lot of first aid training so I thought it would be a good idea to come and do something. I can get on a flight tomorrow.
‘I’m 60 which means I’m just about within the age range they’ll accept.’
Asked if he would put his life on the line, he said: ‘Well somebody has to.’
On Sunday Ukraine’s president Volodomyr Zelensky said he was forming his country’s own foreign legion to fight Russia.
Several thousand people have volunteered to join the force, deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said yesterday.
Military surplus stores have been overrun with Ukrainian expats sourcing gear for recruits heading to join the fight.
Folkestone has become a rallying point and the Kent town’s G4 Echelon supply store has seen scores of volunteers buying up combat uniforms, first aid kits, flak jackets and helmets.
Britain's Lads Army 'willing to die' in fight with Putin: Ex-carer who battled ISIS, father-of-seven who has never seen action and ex-soldier with Ukrainian wife line up to battle Russia - as No 10 says DON'T go to war
By Chris Matthews for MailOnline
Dozens of former Army and Special Forces soldiers from Britain and amateurs who have never seen action before have volunteered to fight Putin's invading troops and say they're willing to die for the cause.
Shaun Pinner, 48, an ex-soldier with a Ukrainian wife who is already on the front lines, and Antony Zamparelli, a father-of-seven who served in the Army but has never been in a conflict, are among those from the UK to have said they will fight.
Others include Aiden Aslin, 28, an ex-carer who previously fought ISIS in Syria, as well as a team of 60 British former Army and Special Forces soldiers that have been gathered by Mamuka Mamulashvili, 43, commander of the Georgian National Legion.
It comes as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and a No 10 spokesman both appeared to contradict Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who yesterday gave her backing to Britons who wanted to join the resistance movement.
Speaking this morning, Mr Wallace said he didn't 'want to see British people killed any more than I want to see Ukrainians' and asked people who were not properly trained or an 'experienced member of an armed forced' not to join the war in Ukraine.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine was 'very dangerous', Mr Wallace told Sky News, and there were 'better ways' to support the country.
Shaun Pinner, 48, (pictured) is one of many UK nationals who have travelled to Ukraine to fight
Father-of-seven Antony Zamparelli said he was willing to die for Ukraine and urged other Brits to fight against the Russian invaders
Aiden Aslin, 28, (pictured) is a former carer who previously fought against Isis in Syria. Now he is fighting against a Russian invasion of Ukraine
A 60-year-old former Territorial Army soldier (pictured) said outside the Ukrainian embassy in London that 'somebody has to' put their life on the line
Sixty British volunteers are heading to Ukraine to fight against Vladimir Putin's Russian forces, led by Mamuka Mamulashvili, Georgian National Legion (pictured training in Kyiv in January) commander
Asked if the Prime Minister supported her remarks, a No 10 spokesman said today the travel advice was not to go to Ukraine.
He added: 'We think the best way of helping now is ensuring Putin fails.'
Friends and families of the Brits going to war told MailOnline of their worries for them being on the frontlines in Ukraine.
Mr Pinner, who previously served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, said he fought with the Ukrainian army as a 'contract soldier
This week they are frantically searching for chest seals to treat battle wounds before they head to Ukraine, she added.
A friend of Mr Aslin, Kattia Beckinsale-Yates, told MailOnline: 'I messaged the other day but haven't heard anything back.'
She added she was 'hoping and praying he's safe'.
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