A Scots garage owner who is fighting on the front line in Ukraine has been hailed a hero after being involved in two major fronts since March. Adam Ennis returned safely to Biggar earlier this year after spending three months putting his life on the line to fight Putin’s “evil” invasion.
But the 35-year-old only remained in Scotland for a short time before he travelled back to Kyiv to help the war-torn country. We previously told of how he was raising cash to buy a truck to take back to Ukraine which could be used to move casualties from the front line.
He has now hailed as a hero after featuring in the photographic exhibition, Warriors of the World - Warriors of Light, alongside a documentary, International Legion, at the Bouquet Kyiv Stage Festival. Those who organised the event have described the group as "warriors from different countries, who are defending our state".
The BBC reports that Adam described scenes from his first deployment Irpin, outside of Kyiv, during the documentary
He said: "I have never seen anything like that and never thought I would in my lifetime. Total devastation, buildings destroyed, lives destroyed, lives lost. We were on the frontline, the Russians were about 200m away. There were flats, buildings on fire and people were still in their homes, living their lives as normal.
"There was artillery coming down, and there was a guy out walking his dog, in his garden, it was surreal. But they have no option, what can they do? This is their home."
Adam added: "When things like this happen, it doesn't matter nationality, colour or religion. People are people. Ukraine is no different to Scotland and we stand together."
Speaking to BBC Scotland, his dad Brian said: "A wee boy from Symington, working in Biggar and here he is being recognised in such a short period of time for his efforts. They call him a hero but, as he says in the documentary, he recognises the true heroes are the people of Ukraine."
Adam, who runs Big B’s Garage in Biggar, ignored Foreign Office warnings against travelling to Ukraine to fight in a bid to get back to the war zone.
He has previously told how his unit has seen horrors on the streets of Kyiv – including a Ukrainian soldier being killed by a Russian shell and also revealed he met three other Scots fighters after arriving in Ukraine.
The Foreign Office website warns: “If you travel to Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the war, your activities may amount to offences under UK legislation and you could be prosecuted on your return to the UK.”
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