A former British Army medic says he is proud to have fought alongside Ukrainian forces after joining the war effort against Russia.
Jason Haigh found himself in the midst of fierce fighting during the Battle of Antonov as Moscow troops attempted to seize the strategic airport in Kyiv oblast from February 24.
The 34-year-old was arrested as a suspected saboteur and beaten during an interrogation after the site was taken by the Red Army.
Jason served two tours of Iraq during his time in the military and flew to Ukraine at the start of February, setting up home in the capital before linking up with other foreign fighters.
He was woken by a friend in the early hours of February 20 when Vladimir Putin announced the invasion and bombs quickly began dropping.
Keep up to date with all the latest developments in Ukraine on a our live blog here
Jason dashed out of his flat in full body armour and carrying an AK-47.
He could hear rockets flying over buildings and in the distance there were bright flashes, which he described as "surreal".
His unit joined a detachment of Ukrainian troops heading to defend Hostomel Airport.
Jason admitted there was lots of confusion around what was going on and he was scared as he headed for what became a bloody battle ground.
Want all the latest news and analysis from Ukraine? Sign up to our World News Bulletin here
He told the Sun : "When we arrived it was very quiet. But all of a sudden the gates of hell opened up on us."
Russia jets fired a bombardment of rockets before attack helicopters joined in.
Jason and 10 other soldiers from the Georgian Legion ran for cover in a nearby woodland and said they came very close to being killed.
"I’ve never experienced firepower like that, I don’t think anyone of this generation ever has."
He said Iraq and Afghanistan was "totally different", with the Russians a "conventional modern army".
Ukrainian reinforcements eventually arrived with Stinger missiles to take down invading choppers.
He added: “The Ukrainians fought like lions and I’m proud I was alongside them.
"What Putin is doing is terrorism. He’s bombing kids and families for nothing. He’s a war criminal.”
However, Jason and an American friend were later detained by Ukrainian agents believing they were Russian saboteurs after they were found to be carrying walkie talkies.
Jason said they were precautionary in case the comms network went down.
He was interrogated for three hours, which included a brutal beating.
His head was slammed down by one guard, as another arrived with cable ties and hoods.
Jason said they kept shouting "Russian" at him as he assured them he was English.
The beating left him with a bad concussion and heavy bleeding.
He said he got scared when they began going through his phone as he thought about his family.
Eventually, the pair were later released and Jason joined hundreds of others on trains to Lviv.
He fled to the Polish border and got a train to Warsaw, and then flew back to Kidderminster in Worcestershire last Friday.
“I didn’t go there to die. I obviously thought about it but I had a job to do,” he said.
