British soldiers were yesterday banned from going to Ukraine to join the fight against Russia. Hundreds of troops have expressed interest in answering a request from Kyiv for international volunteers. But commanders have told them not to sign up. They cannot stop retired personnel from travelling to eastern Europe, but full-time and reserve troops have received a stern warning not to take part in the conflict. A post on the Army’s internal messaging service read: ‘There has been some recent media coverage relating to foreigners being welcomed into Ukraine to help fight against Russia. 'To be clear, as members of the British Army, you are not authorised to travel to Ukraine to support the ongoing conflict against Russia in any form, whether you are on leave or not. ‘Please remain professional and focused on your duty and your team.’ The presence of any serving British troops in Ukraine could significantly escalate the crisis because the UK, as a Nato member, must abide by the alliance’s commitment not to send soldiers to the war-torn country. However, the Daily Mail has learned that as many as 200 former UK personnel could be travelling to Ukraine this week. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace yesterday urged only ‘properly trained’ UK nationals to join the cause. He told Britons without combat experience not to ‘put yourselves in harm’s way’. Ukrainian soldiers walk at Kyiv central train station last week ahead of an ongoing battle with Russia Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has urged only ‘properly trained’ UK nationals to join the cause in Ukraine Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (pictured) said she would support British nationals who chose to fight alongside Ukrainian forces against the Russian invasion on Sunday His warning came 24 hours after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss welcomed those joining the ‘struggle’. Mr Wallace insisted: ‘Unless you are properly trained, unless you are an experienced member of the armed forces, there are better ways for you to contribute to the security of Ukraine.’ Downing Street also effectively contradicted Miss Truss yesterday. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘The best way we can help Ukraine right now is by ensuring Putin fails. There are a number of ways Brits can show their support for that, and the Ukrainian embassy in London is putting out information about how the British can support them. ‘We fully recognise the strength of feeling about British people wanting to support the Ukrainians following the Russian invasion. 'There’s advice up on travelling to Ukraine, we currently advise against travel to Ukraine.’ At the Ukrainian embassy in London yesterday, one 60-year-old English ex-soldier, who did not give his name, vowed to join the fight. He told Sky News: ‘I used to be in the TA so I’ve got a lot of first aid training so I thought it would be a good idea to come and do something. I can get on a flight tomorrow. ‘I’m 60 which means I’m just about within the age range they’ll accept.’ Asked if he would put his life on the line, he said: ‘Well somebody has to.’ On Sunday Ukraine’s president Volodomyr Zelensky said he was forming his country’s own foreign legion to fight Russia. Several thousand people have volunteered to join the force, deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said yesterday. Military surplus stores have been overrun with Ukrainian expats sourcing gear for recruits heading to join the fight. Folkestone has become a rallying point and the Kent town’s G4 Echelon supply store has seen scores of volunteers buying up combat uniforms, first aid kits, flak jackets and helmets. Britain's Lads Army 'willing to die' in fight with Putin: Ex-carer who battled ISIS, father-of-seven who has never seen action and ex-soldier with Ukrainian wife line up to battle Russia - as No 10 says DON'T go to war By Chris Matthews for MailOnline Dozens of former Army and Special Forces soldiers from Britain and amateurs who have never seen action before have volunteered to fight Putin's invading troops and say they're willing to die for the cause. Shaun Pinner, 48, an ex-soldier with a Ukrainian wife who is already on the front lines, and Antony Zamparelli, a father-of-seven who served in the Army but has never been in a conflict, are among those from the UK to have said they will fight. Others include Aiden Aslin, 28, an ex-carer who previously fought ISIS in Syria, as well as a team of 60 British former Army and Special Forces soldiers that have been gathered by Mamuka Mamulashvili, 43, commander of the Georgian National Legion. It comes as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and a No 10 spokesman both appeared to contradict Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who yesterday gave her backing to Britons who wanted to join the resistance movement. Speaking this morning, Mr Wallace said he didn't 'want to see British people killed any more than I want to see Ukrainians' and asked people who were not properly trained or an 'experienced member of an armed forced' not to join the war in Ukraine. The Russian invasion of Ukraine was 'very dangerous', Mr Wallace told Sky News, and there were 'better ways' to support the country. Shaun Pinner, 48, (pictured) is one of many UK nationals who have travelled to Ukraine to fight Father-of-seven Antony Zamparelli said he was willing to die for Ukraine and urged other Brits to fight against the Russian invaders Aiden Aslin, 28, (pictured) is a former carer who previously fought against Isis in Syria. Now he is fighting against a Russian invasion of Ukraine A 60-year-old former Territorial Army soldier (pictured) said outside the Ukrainian embassy in London that 'somebody has to' put their life on the line Sixty British volunteers are heading to Ukraine to fight against Vladimir Putin's Russian forces, led by Mamuka Mamulashvili, Georgian National Legion (pictured training in Kyiv in January) commander Asked if the Prime Minister supported her remarks, a No 10 spokesman said today the travel advice was not to go to Ukraine. He added: 'We think the best way of helping now is ensuring Putin fails.' Friends and families of the Brits going to war told MailOnline of their worries for them being on the frontlines in Ukraine. Mr Pinner's sister Cassandra, who is a nurse in Bedfordshire, said: 'He's fighting as we speak, although I probably shouldn't disclose where'. 'He's going in now, [I] sent a final message just in case.' She said the rest of her brother's team would be joining him on Thursday. Mr Pinner, who previously served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, said he fought with the Ukrainian army as a 'contract soldier This week they are frantically searching for chest seals to treat battle wounds before they head to Ukraine, she added. A friend of Mr Aslin, Kattia Beckinsale-Yates, told MailOnline: 'I messaged the other day but haven't heard anything back.' She added she was 'hoping and praying he's safe'. A YouGov poll of UK adults on Monday found 18 per cent believes the Government should encourage people who want to fight the Russians to go to Ukraine (Image: YouGov) A YouGov poll of UK adults on Monday found 18 per cent believes the Government should encourage people who want to fight the Russians to go to Ukraine. Father-of-seven Antony Zamparelli told GB News he was willing to die for the Ukrainian cause and urged other Brits to 'go to Ukraine if you're willing to fight for freedom'. Meanwhile, a 60-year-old former Territorial Army soldier said outside the Ukrainian embassy in London that 'somebody has to' put their life on the line. He added: 'I decided to come and do something. I can get on a flight tomorrow.' MailOnline revealed on Saturday that foreigners are crossing into Ukraine to take up arms after a call from president Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr Aslin is a former carer who left his job in April 2015 and travelled to Syria to fight Isis in Syria. He spent ten months there before coming home to the UK, where he was arrested. He was held for 30 hours after officers boarded his plane at Heathrow, where members of his family were eagerly awaiting his arrival. He was immediately taken to Nottinghamshire Police headquarters for questioning over a suspected terrorism offence. He remained on bail for months until all charges were dropped in October 2016. Now, in Ukraine, he is not the only Britain ready to fight off a Russian invasion. The former carer has been joined by ex-soldier Mr Pinner, from Bedfordshire. He is married to a Ukrainian woman and has been in Donbas for the past four years. Mr Pinner previously served in the Royal Anglian Regiment and said he fought with the Ukrainian army as a 'contract soldier'. Speaking from a trench ten miles outside Mariupol, he said: 'I am here defending my family and adopted city. Russia started this war – it's funded by Russia and driven by Russia. But we will fight them, make no mistake about that.' Mr Pinner said fighting in the trenches was 'like Hell', with snipers 'less than 600m away'. Mr Pinner said there has been tension in Ukraine' for years'. 'It's only new to Europe, who have finally woken up to what's happening here,' he told Al Jazeera. Mr Pinner is one of the oldest in his unit, which has three Brits and one Croatian as well as Ukrainians. The team is known as the Marines First Battalion. 'I've always got something to prove,' Mr Pinner added. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline commander Mamulashvili said: 'I have a very big group of Britons, around sixty travelling to Ukraine to join up with my Georgian National League unit. 'They are travelling by car from the UK and will cross over at the Polish border. I am expecting them here with equipment and supplies in the next few days. A Russian tank burning in the Ukrainian city of Sumy just days after newly revealed dashcam footage showed a huge column of tanks moving in 'They are mostly guys who have fought with me in Ukraine before but there are also new recruits as well. 'We will provide them with training and weapons and they are coming from London and all over Britain. 'Their background is former British Army and Special Forces and they are good fighters, they can be trusted to take on the Russian aggressors and most importantly win. Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine faces a 'crucial' 24 hours as Russia throws even more ground forces at Kyiv Plumes of smoke rise from a building, which was caused by a cruise missile according to local media, in Kyiv, Ukraine Smoke billows over the town of Vasylkiv, which is just outside Kyiv on February 27 Public Chernihiv reports that a rocket hit a residential building in the centre of Chernihiv, north of Kyiv. A fire broke out with two lower floors ablaze. The number of injured is currently unknown 'What I want to stress is that none of them are getting paid, they are not mercenaries, they are all volunteers.' Commander Mamulashvili is a veteran of the 2008 war against Russia in Georgia and a mixed martial arts expert and founded the unit in 2014 to provide foreign fighters in Ukraine's war against Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region. He added: 'The guys from the UK are just bringing basic equipment with their uniforms and rations, they will get weapons when they arrive. 'Putin is very much mistaken if he thinks he will take Ukraine, he will face a fight to the death as the Ukrainian army has shown how brave and strong it is. 'They have experience and now they have good equipment from the rest of Europe and the world and now we have the backing of some of the best foreign volunteer soldiers in the world. 'We know some of us might die but unless we fight against Russia, Putin will just keep going and trying to take countries. 'When he went into Georgia in 2008 the then President of my country said Ukraine would be next and he was right.' Father-of-two Mamulashvili added that he 'expected' the number of volunteers from Britain and elsewhere to top 500 within the next few days after having received dozens of requests asking for details on how to join up. Members of Georgian Legion train civilians to adapt them with the self-defence capabilities in January The paramilitary unit formed mainly by ethnic Georgian volunteers to fight against Russian aggression in Ukraine in 2014, now includes people of various nationalities Commander Mamuka Mamulashvili told MailOnline: 'anyone from the UK who wants to come and fight is to get in touch with the Ukrainian embassy in London and they will advise how to get to our base. If that is not possible volunteers should make their way to Poland and cross the border into Ukraine and head for the city of Lviv where we have a mobilisation base and make themselves known to the local authorities' He added: 'My advice for anyone from the UK who wants to come and fight is to get in touch with the Ukrainian embassy in London and they will advise how to get to our base. 'If that is not possible volunteers should make their way to Poland and cross the border into Ukraine and head for the city of Lviv where we have a mobilisation base and make themselves known to the local authorities but for obvious reasons I cannot give you the exact address.' Earlier this year it emerged that at least two Brits were fighting in Ukraine, Aiden Aslin, 28, from Newark, Nottinghamshire and Sean Pinner, 48, from Bedfordshire. Do you know someone going to fight in Ukraine? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Harry Jackson, 27, who founded UK Aid for Ukraine, and launched an appeal on Facebook for volunteers and equipment said he had been 'flooded with offers of help'. Harry said: 'I'm putting people in touch with Mamuka Mamulashvili, commander of the Georgian National Legion. 'I have helmets, flak jackets and medical supplies all going out as well as a group of volunteers.' On Sunday President Zelensky urged foreigners to head to Ukrainian embassies in their home countries to sign up for an 'international brigade' to help fight invading Russian forces. He said: 'All foreigners wishing to join the resistance against the Russian occupiers and protect global security are invited by the Ukrainian leadership to come to our state and join the ranks of the territorial defence forces,' Zelensky said in a statement on the presidential website. 'A separate unit is being formed from foreigners — the International Brigade of the territorial defence of Ukraine. This will be a key testimony of your support for our country.' Since 2016 it has been legal for foreigners to join the Ukrainian army. All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility