A former British soldier who volunteered to fight for Ukraine has spoken of the tough conditions on the frontline serving alongside men who have become “like brothers I never had”.
Paul Bodycote Denoso, 52, is serving with a unit near Kyiv where he gets little sleep and is constantly awoken by air raid sirens and missile strikes.
He quit his hotel job in Britain to join the international army in Ukraine where he is using his experience in the Royal Artillery and RAF reserve.
The volunteer, from Leicester, said the scale of human suffering inflicted by the Russian army in its invasion was taking its toll. He arrived in Ukraine on March 17.
The former serviceman told the Standard: “Three other Brits are in the same unit with me. It’s like the wild west. Soldiers are very tired, but more than that we are emotionally drained because of all the human suffering being witnessed on a daily basis.”
Mr Bodycote Denoso said the other British volunteers were “like brothers I never had, we help each other with kit, rations, ammo and whatever else is needed”.
He revealed basic supplies such as ammunition and food were a challenge.
He said: “I’m afraid to lose my life, anyone who isn’t is either drunk or a complete psychopath. Fearing the loss of one’s life keeps you switched on and less likely to mess up.”
Foreign fighters like Mr Bodycote Denoso are bound by contract to remain with the armed forces of Ukraine until the end of martial law. He does not have a fixed date of return.
He warned Britons to think carefully before going to Ukraine to fight in the war-torn country.
Mr Bodycote Denoso said: “Don’t travel here, especially if you haven’t received proper training. Some of us Brits are trained and can handle it but the ones coming out here with no training are going to get killed.”
Ministry of Defence chiefs have banned all service personnel from travelling to Ukraine until further notice.
Previously he said that when Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she would not deter private citizens from joining the international volunteers heading to Ukraine he decided to buy some military kit and headed off.
