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The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country has set up an international volunteers legion for foreigners wishing to fight, and publicly urged people from abroad to "fight side-by-side with Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals". Last week, Zelensky said that more than 16,000 foreigners had volunteered, without specifying how many had arrived.

Two foreign volunteers from the UK share their thougths on going to fight in Ukraine. They're both from England - Jax is 21 and from Manchester; Ash is 26 and from London. They both worked in the security industry before deciding to go and fight, and made the journey to Ukraine early last week. Since then, they say they have been working closely with the Ukrainian military, and you will hear some Ukrainian soldiers in the background.

Two soldiers explain the moment that compelled them to go and fight in Ukraine and how their families took the news they were leaving. Jax says hearing about how the Russians were targeting civilians was what made up his mind.

For Ash, "the turning point for me watching the news. I saw a young family watching out of their window as a fighter jet sent a rocket into their building, and you could hear them screaming".
Jax: "If we can make a difference, why not? We might be safe, but the Ukrainians aren't"

Photo: Ukrainian soldiers and volunteers in Kyiv on 3 March, 2022 Credit: Getty Images

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