SAS vets are joining Ukraine's fight against Russia and have put their hands up for missions deep inside the country. The crack team of retired special forces soldiers include highly-trained snipers and experts in the use of anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles, reports the Mirror.
The ex-Paratroopers, aged between 40 and 60, have had meetings to discuss signing up for battle and may join the special forces teams in Ukraine, along with other UK military specialists. The operation is not being paid for by the British government but will be funded by a country in Europe, still to be named, via a private military company.
The plan is a way of backing Ukraine militarily but without officially sending serving troops into battle against Vladimir Putin’s forces. More than a dozen of the veterans have already arrived in Ukraine and another dozen will travel there this week.
Among them are warrant officers, sergeants and corporals who have fought all over the world but no Army officers have signed up yet. It follows Ukraine’s President Zelensky announcing an international call to arms for people to go to Ukraine and help defend his homeland.
The ex-SAS team have fought all over Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere globally. One ex-SAS man told the Daily Mirror: “This has had to happen very quickly as the situation in Ukraine is now desperate and they need urgent help.
“A lot of ex-parachute regiment colleagues are also very keen to go. Many people are very keen to go and it has had to be organised very quickly. It is legal as none of the men going out are still serving and Ukraine has invited people to go in and help the fight militarily.
"It means some of the most experienced veterans in the world will assist Ukraine and link up with Ukraine’s force headquarters. And we do know that Putin has a great deal of respect for the SAS.”
President Zelensky appealed to people to help his country take up arms on social media. He said: "The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is addressing all citizens of the world, friends of Ukraine, peace and democracy. Anyone who wants to join the defence of Ukraine, Europe and the world can come.”
