I’m one of the first Brits to join Ukraine war & was interrogated

ONE of the primary British fighters in Ukraine advised yesterday of his ferocious battle with Russian troops on the Battle of Antonov.

Ex-Military medic Jason Haigh, 34, exchanged gunfire with the Pink Military because it sought to grab an airport and was later overwhelmed by guards in terrifying interrogations.

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Jason, who served two excursions of Iraq, advised The Solar: “The Ukrainians fought like lions and I’m proud I used to be alongside them. What Putin is doing is terrorism. He’s bombing children and households for nothing. He’s a warfare prison.”

He flew to Ukraine initially of final month. He recalled: “Once I advised my mates they had been like, ‘What, are you mad?’. I’m a professional fight medic and have finished seven years working as a non-public navy contractor. I needed to go and do some good.”

He arrange house in Kyiv and linked up with international fighters forward of the invasion.

Jason was sleeping when a pal woke him on the morning Putin’s troops and tanks invaded.

He advised The Solar: “The world simply blew up. You can hear rockets coming over the buildings.

“Within the distance there have been brilliant lights flashing everywhere in the metropolis from the Russian bombardment. It was fully surreal.”

Jason dashed out of his metropolis centre flat in full physique armour and carrying an AK-47.

His unit shortly joined a detachment of Ukrainian troops heading to defend Hostomel Airport.

Jason recalled: “It was a really complicated state of affairs. Nobody actually knew what was occurring.

“As we headed into the darkish I feel it’s honest to say I used to be scared.

“Anybody who goes into that place that isn’t scared is a liar.

“After we arrived it was very quiet. However hastily the gates of hell opened up on us.”

A squadron of Russian jets fired down rockets earlier than a fleet of assault choppers joined in.

Jason and ten troopers from the Georgian Legion took cowl in woodland. Jason, who served with the Mercian Regiment, added: “We bought very near getting whacked. I’ve by no means skilled firepower like that, I don’t assume anybody of this technology ever has.

“Iraq and Afghanistan was completely totally different. The Russians are a standard trendy military.”

Reinforcements then arrived with Stinger missiles to choose off the Russian choppers in a courageous present of Ukrainian resistance.

Nevertheless, Jason and an American pal had been later arrested by Ukraine brokers in search of Russian saboteurs. He stated: “My mate and I had a day sack with two walkie talkies and a small pistol.

“We had them for real causes reminiscent of if the comms community went down however they bought suspicious.”

As we headed into the darkish I feel it’s honest to say I used to be scared. Anybody who goes into that place that isn’t scared is a liar. After we arrived it was very quiet. However hastily the gates of hell opened up on us.

Jason Haigh on the Battle of Antonov

They had been taken to a safety service base and interrogated for 3 hours. Jason stated: “My head was slammed down by one of many guards.

“A distinct man got here in and I might inform by his equipment that he was in an elite unit. He had cable ties and two hoods and I believed ‘S***, that is actual’.

“They stored shouting Russian at me however clearly I stated I used to be English. They whacked me round eight or 9 occasions. I had fairly a nasty concussion and was bleeding closely.”

He went on: “They checked out my telephone and my messages which was a very scary second.

“I wasn’t fearful of dying however I used to be scared about placing my household and associates by the ache of understanding I used to be in that state of affairs.”

Finally, they had been launched and Jason joined lots of of hundreds on trains to Lviv. He then fled to the Polish border earlier than getting a prepare to Warsaw.

From there he flew to the UK and arrived house in Kidderminster final Friday. He stated: “I didn’t go there to die. I clearly thought of it however I had a job to do.”

The Battle of Antonov — also called the Battle of Hostomel — was among the many first main skirmishes of the warfare, with Russian assault helicopters and jets aiming to dampen early resistance.

Putin’s forces had been profitable however at enormous price — as Ukrainian forces downed a number of choppers. Jason stated: “The Ukrainian persons are heroes. They’re all nice blokes who’ve the guts of lions and are defending their nation.”

• SERVING British troopers could also be prosecuted for desertion in the event that they go to Ukraine to combat, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated.

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