Meet the brave British soldiers who want to take up arms and fight for Ukraine
Leonard T. Koonce
3 min read
‘What Russia has done is disgusting. It is beyond wrong’: Meet the brave British soldiers who want to take up arms and fight for Ukraine
- Former Army sniper Shane Matthews is among those who answered Ukraine’s call
- The 34-year-old, who served as a lance corporal, is aiming to leave on Monday
- Another Alex Pickett, 32, said: ‘I will do everything I can in any way possible’
- Douglas Lambourne, 25, Oliver Miller, 29, and Liam Hawkins, 30, also join
Dozens of other Britons have vowed to fly to help Ukrainians defend their country against Russian invasion.
Former army sniper Shane Matthews is among those who answered the call to arms of Ukraine’s president, who urged foreign fighters to help protect his people.
Mr Matthews, who has completed several tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, plans to fly to Poland on Monday before crossing the border and meeting a Ukrainian colonel, who he says has agreed to “arm him” and others.
The 34-year-old, who served as a lance corporal with the 2nd Battalion Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment for six years until 2009, is aiming to head to Kyiv.
Carrying 60kg of donated medical supplies, Mr Matthews will travel to the frontline to treat injured Ukrainians, train civilians and, if necessary, fight.
Former army sniper Shane Matthews is among those who answered the call to arms of Ukraine’s president, who urged foreign fighters to help protect his people
Douglas Lambourne, from west London, said: ‘My mum is Polish and I have family in Ukraine. I’m 25 and I’m sitting at home, and my time is better spent there doing what’s right’
Mr Matthews, from Chichester, West Sussex, said: ‘What Russia has done is disgusting. It is more than reprehensible. The Russians don’t want to be involved. “The Russian army does not know why it is there. As far as I’m concerned, if you can fight, it’s your duty to fight.
Dozens of volunteers arrived at the Ukrainian embassy in London yesterday in the hope of defending the country.
Alex Pickett, from Andover, Hampshire, said: “I will do everything I can in any way I can.”
The 32-year-old, who works in private security, added: “I’m not military, but I’m English.” My heart is in the right place and that’s the only reason I’m doing this.
Alex Pickett, from Andover, Hampshire, said: ‘I will do everything I can in any way possible’
Mr Matthews, from Chichester, West Sussex, said: ‘What Russia has done is disgusting. It is more than reprehensible’
Oliver Miller, a 29-year-old mechanical engineering student from Chelmsford, Essex, said he was ‘hoping to come out and help out in some way’, adding: ‘I know I’m going to give myself a shot. foot if I don’t do anything about it.’
Douglas Lambourne, from west London, said: ‘My mum is Polish and I have family in Ukraine. I’m 25 and I’m sitting at home, and my time is better spent there doing what’s right.
Liam Hawkins, 30, also from London, said: ‘I haven’t slept since that invasion and I just can’t stay home with my babies and my wife and do nothing. Right is right and wrong is wrong…I know it’s dangerous, people try to talk me out of it, but I believe I can make a difference.
