Brave Brits signing up in droves to join Ukraine and fight Vladimir Putin’s bloody invasion

BRAVE Brits are signing up in their droves to join Ukraine and fight against Vladimir Putin’s bloody invasion.

In extraordinary scenes, builders, brickies and even a plucky 60 year-old Army reservist descended on Ukraine’s London embassy yesterday to volunteer.

They were answering Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for Europe’s men to take up arms and “defeat Putin” like “we defeated Hitler”.

Boris Johnson yesterday urged Brits not to travel to the war-torn country to fight - slapping down Foreign Secretary Liz Truss who just hours earlier had backed the mission.

But defiant Brits said they could not sit back and watch as our European neighbours are bombed to oblivion by the Red Army.

They included Brian Grove, 60, who used to be in the Territorial Army.

He said:  “I used to be in the TA. I have also got a lot of first aid training so decided to come and do something.

“I can get on a flight tomorrow.

“I am 60 so just about within the age range they would accept.”

Asked by Sky News if he would be prepared to put his life on the line, the grey-haired Brit added: “Well somebody has to”.

Leon Dawson - who works in a gym but has no military fighting experience - came with a group of mates to sign up.

🔵 Read our Russia - Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates

The burly Brit vowed: “They look like they need help. We are young, strong, fit men so why not?”

While many Ukrainians living in Britain hot-footed it to the embassy to volunteer to return and defend their homeland.

Among their number was Dimitro Tiutiunnyk, 37, and his son, 16 year-old Roman Tiutiunnyk.

Dimitro’s mother, Oksana, and brother, Ivan are in Chernivtsi, in western Ukraine.

Dimitro, a builder who has lived in London for four years, said: “I never wanted to go to war, or to fight, but now we have no choice.

“I have to go and help my family, I have to save my country.

“If I go back home I have to join the Army, I have no choice, but I want to help as much as I can.

“Putin is a monster, we don’t know what he will do, one day he might press one button and it will end everything.”

It came as No10 slapped down the Foreign Secretary for giving the green light to Brits to travel to Ukraine to fight.

The PM’s spokesman and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace both warned the country is “very dangerous” and urged Brits to donate to humanitarian agencies instead.

The PM’s spokesman said: “We fully recognise the strength of feeling about British people wanting to support Ukrainians following the Russian invasion.

“There is advice on travelling to Ukraine and we currently advise against travelling to Ukraine.”

Mr Wallace said: “If you are a Ukrainian national here or a dual national here there is no bar on you doing that [fighting].

“But if you are going to be a fighter there please try to comply with the Foreign Office advice because it is dangerous.

“But secondly, be trained. Have experience. Don’t be serving personnel - you can serve in the British Army. We are there right now in the border areas of Poland.

“But fundamentally it is a dangerous situation. If you are going to fight, be a professional  having had service etc.”

Ukrainians living in Britain are free to return to their country to fight. But Brits are being strongly urged not to.