[ad_1]
A British father who traveled to Ukraine to join the resistance against Russia has reportedly turned back after fearing he was joining a “suicide mission” and the harsh criticism he received from his wife and 16-year-old son.
Ben Spann, 36, from Leamington, had traveled to Ukraine believing it was “the right thing to do” even though he had no military experience or ties to the country.
He had spent three days at an illegal base with four other former British soldiers before deciding the adventure was “a nightmare” and returning to Britain.
But Spann, who has set up a charity against violence, told the network Sky News that he regretted leaving after feeling he had left his other friends in the lurch.
Now he recommends that people with no military experience not travel to Ukraine as they are more of a burden than an aid.
Spann had not told family members that he was going to fight against Russia, but that he would help refugees in Poland.
But he flew to Szczec in Poland, and then by bus to the Ukrainian border, and then on foot to Kiev with four other ex-servicemen.
The group had reached -6C temperatures overnight when they settled into the safe house along with other volunteers, Spann reports.
“The little room had no beds or running water and was like a drugstore in England,” says Spann, adding that he stayed there for three days waiting for the transport vehicle to bring weapons, but never came.
But then there came a Ukrainian team of 10 paramilitaries who did not believe in their motives as no one had previously fought abroad with their “Foreign Legions”.
Spann says he and other volunteers were held hostage by Kalashnikovs held in their heads for 20-30 minutes as the Ukrainian group searched the house where they were staying.
The atmosphere then changed when they realized it was the British who had come to join the war against Russia.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense had issued an official call on Facebook for foreign volunteer fighters in the first week of the war, saying: “Join the international legion of Ukrainian territorial forces! “If you are not Ukrainian but you are with Ukraine against the Russian occupation, join us!”
The next day Spann’s group was taken to the weapons base where they were greeted by the rude sight of two dead Russian soldiers, who were stuck on their feet with hats on their faces.
“The sight was a warning to the Russians and made me realize that these people were ready to fight and die together,” said Spann, adding that the British were not given weapons and returned to the house where they were staying.
“At the same time I was receiving a lot of criticism from my wife and son who said I did not care about them.”
At this point Spann parted from the ex-military and returned home.
Spann told Sky News he had repaired things with his wife and son but feels he left his colleagues in the mud.
The news comes shortly after Russia blew up a foreign fighter base and sent weapons to a base near the Polish border on Sunday.
Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian military, said the base in Yavoriv – 15 km from Poland – was hit by a high-precision missile carrying foreign mercenaries and a large amount of weapons sent from abroad.
Konashenkov said 180 people had been hanged in the attack, while Ukraine said 35 people had been killed and 134 wounded.
top channel
[ad_2]
Source link
