Christmas off, then straight back to war

Adam Ennis didn't marque it location to his household for Christmas, but helium inactive considers himself luckier than his comrades.

They slept unsmooth successful the trenches connected Ukraine's beforehand enactment portion helium enjoyed a uncommon time off.

Since then, helium has seen enactment successful astatine slightest 2 large fronts. He present says helium is improbable to instrumentality to Scotland until the warfare is over.

"I person nary plans to travel backmost location anytime soon," helium told BBC Scotland. "My bosom is invested successful this warfare effort similar the brave boys astir me.

"We beryllium it to each other, to our families who person had to woody with the heartbreak of our determination to beryllium progressive successful this war, to decorativeness this and escaped Ukraine erstwhile and for all.

"Ukraine fights for each of Europe - we indispensable not hide this."

"Coming present was the champion determination of my life," helium said. "I person intent present and person met truthful galore bully people."

Mr Ennis had Christmas Day distant from duty, but did not power disconnected for a minute.

He added: "I volition miss my household and friends implicit this play but I americium fortunate to person bully radical astir me. I volition beryllium reasoning of each those not arsenic fortunate.

"It doesn't consciousness similar Christmas to beryllium honest. Mentally we person switched backmost to crippled time."

On Boxing Day, Mr Ennis drove backmost to his unit's country of operations and was backmost connected work the adjacent morning.

His radical is scheduled to beryllium successful operations until the extremity of January.

Although morale is "sky high" among the soldiers, Mr Ennis sees the regular conflict for mean Ukrainians.

"The civilians are successful a atrocious mode retired here," helium said. "The bombardments connected the cities are astir each time targeting vigor facilities and civilian infrastructure.

"They don't person energy for days astatine a clip and they are relying connected humanitarian assistance for survival."

It is those radical helium wants to help.

"Anyone that tin assistance needs to help. There are plentifulness of charities sending assistance over. Every tiny donation whether it's nutrient oregon apparel is vital.

"This is the hardest portion for maine astir this warfare - what I person witnessed these animals bash to the guiltless from time one."

Mr Ennis uses his Instagram page to item the cause, support household updated and entreaty to the nationalist to help.

The nametag connected Mr Ennis's backpack reads "Braveheart", which is however helium is known to the different planetary fighters.

He has been hailed a hero and featured successful a movie astir planetary soldiers putting their lives connected the enactment for the radical of Ukraine.

He said the concern had changed "dramatically" successful the warfare since his past travel location successful July.

"We present person momentum connected our side," helium said.

"But though we person taken overmuch crushed backmost and volition proceed to bash so, it is coming astatine a precocious cost.

"Many bully men person sacrificed their lives for Ukraine. The casualties connected our side, though they are acold excessively high, are a batch less than the Russians.

"They volition happily sacrifice 200 men to instrumentality a presumption that 20 of our men hold."

Mr Ennis described 3 Russian lines successful battle.

The archetypal enactment is conscripts has been "mowed down successful their hundreds".

He added: "The 2nd is the regular service and the 3rd enactment is Wagner backstage subject radical who's occupation is to sprout anyone who retreats from the archetypal and 2nd positions."

He admitted to being arrogant of the Ukrainian radical "who conscionable privation to beryllium escaped and portion of Europe".

As helium prepared to instrumentality to freezing conditions,. Mr Ennis had a connection for those helium has near down successful Scotland.

"I privation everyone backmost location a merry Christmas and a blessed caller year.

"Keep Ukraine successful your thoughts and assistance if you can.

"Appreciate the concern that you are each successful arsenic it tin each alteration successful a heartbeat. Just inquire Ukraine."