British soldier Shareef Amin returns to Ukraine after life-changing injury

A British antheral who was earnestly injured warring with the Ukrainian service has returned to the struggle aft recovering successful the UK.

Shareef Amin from Bristol was fortunate to past aft being deed aggregate times by Russian occurrence connected the frontlines.

In December helium was evacuated to the UK, pursuing surgeries to prevention his limb and limb successful a subject infirmary successful Odessa.

"I didn't cognize whether I'd ever beryllium capable to run arsenic a worker oregon a humanitarian again," said Mr Amin.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, helium said helium was unsure if helium would ever beryllium capable to marque it backmost to Ukraine aft the onslaught near him with aggregate shrapnel and slug wounds, and helium mislaid portion of his hand.

After being flown to the UK from Odessa helium underwent further attraction astatine Bristol's Southmead Hospital.

"From the clip I had country successful Ukraine to the clip I got to the UK, they took retired 19 antithetic pieces of metal," said Mr Amin.

Now helium has been doing rehabilitation and grooming with different unpaid fighters getting acceptable to return.

He said helium is inactive nether declaration arsenic a worker with the Ukrainian army, and that this clip he'll beryllium undertaking assignments evacuating others.

"We're going into the hotzones, down force lines, to evacuate civilians and soldiers that person been injured similar I was," said Mr Amin.

"What happened to maine was thing that happens successful a war, and I've accepted that, and I was fortunate capable to enactment alive.

"I've got an impulse to spell backmost and transportation connected helping people. That impulse ne'er went away," helium added.

The UK authorities has warned radical not to question to Ukraine, saying determination are different ways to help.

But Mr Amin, who spent 9 years with the British Army, said a year-and-a-half connected since the Russian penetration helium is inactive being contacted by British ex-soldiers who besides privation to combat for Ukraine.

"I'm getting messages weekly, chiefly the older guys, and they're similar 'look I truly privation to marque a difference'," helium said.

But helium said the Ukrainian forces are turning immoderate Brits away.

"They're saying we're not funny unless you person thing to contribute, you've signed a declaration and you're there, you're a worth and you tin beryllium trusted," helium added.

Ewen Cameron, a humanitarian idiosyncratic from React Aid, which helped with Mr Amin's evacuation, is besides returning arsenic an equipped combat medic.

"I conscionable cognize that I'm susceptible of doing it," helium said.

"It's astir keeping them live truthful they tin support doing the jobs they do. Every clip I spell retired there, idiosyncratic needs much help," helium added.

Mr Amin said helium volition beryllium portion of a portion with different British fighters known arsenic the Dark Angels.

Helping them hole is Rob Paxman. A erstwhile subordinate of the SAS who present trains radical to enactment successful struggle zones.

Mr Paxman said helium often advises would-be fighters not to go.

"I deliberation there's guys retired determination making a quality but you besides get the Walter Mitty types that spell retired there, failed successful the military, didn't get done basal training, and each of a abrupt they privation to spell retired into a hostile environment," helium said.

The nonstop numbers of British soldiers warring with the Ukrainian service isn't known, but commanders successful Ukraine person said hundreds astatine slightest person joined up.

"I've told rather a fewer radical not to go," said Mr Paxman.

"Because it's not the movies and erstwhile you get implicit there, it's a batch much bloody and gory than you tin perchance imagine.

"In this case, these guys are precise competent and they've done an atrocious batch of grooming anterior to departing and refresher grooming earlier going back," helium added.

Mr Amin said helium has besides had to woody with the intelligence broadside of what happened to him, and has been penning a publication astir his experiences.

He has besides had assistance from an organisation called Ghost Concept, which raises wealth to assistance enactment the galore overseas subject volunteers who are warring with the Ukrainian army.

As helium travelled backmost to Ukraine, helium told the BBC helium is present acceptable to instrumentality contempt the risks.

"At the extremity of the time I don't privation to die, but I'd alternatively spell retired and bash thing and prevention immoderate lives, and unrecorded the beingness I privation to live," said Mr Amin.

"And for me, this is rewarding. It's conscionable thing I privation to do.

"That that feeling of helping someone, and the 'thank you' you get astatine the extremity - you cognize you've made a difference," helium said.