Two Ukrainian men living in the UK have driven more than 1,000 miles to join the battle in freeing their war-ravaged country.
Decorator Oleg Prockiv, 42, and his friend Leonid Korol, 43, have left their wives and children behind in Crawley, West Sussex, after deciding to take up arms against the Russian forces.
MailOnline found the men as they pulled into a service station at Przemysl just before crossing the border into Ukraine at nearby Medyka.
After filling up with last minute fuel for their battered Mercedes Sprinter - complete with Union Jack and Ukrainian flag - and grabbing some last-minute snacks they explained their plan.
Decorator Oleg Prockiv, 42, and his friend Leonid Korol, 43, have left their wives and children behind in Crawley, West Sussex, after deciding to take up arms against the Russian forces
Burly Oleg said: 'We couldn't just stand by and watch what is happening to our country. We had to do something to help'
Back in Crawley, Oleg's wife Natalya broke down as she told MailOnline: 'I begged them not to go. I said they both had kids but they wouldn't listen. They said they had to go'
Burly Oleg said: 'We couldn't just stand by and watch what is happening to our country. We had to do something to help.
'Our compatriots are fighting and dying for Ukraine and we could take the easy way and stay home safe but that would be wrong.
'Russia thought this was going to be a walkover but they have made a big mistake. Putin is getting his arse kicked and he will regret it.'
Car salesman Leonid, 43, added: 'There was no question of staying behind in Crawley. I told my wife don't try and stop me I'm going to help.
'Of course she cried, what do you expect her to do! My four-year-old daughter Zlata was in tears but I promised her I would be back.
'I said I would take care and that daddy would be back soon and we would go and play in the park. She even gave me a good luck dragon which I will keep in my pocket.'
Inside their van were bundles of food, water, clothes, sleeping bags and toys they had collected locally in Crawley before leaving early on Monday morning for the marathon drive
Inside their van were bundles of food, water, clothes, sleeping bags and toys they had collected locally in Crawley before leaving early on Monday morning for the marathon drive.
Father of two Oleg, who has previous military experience and whose family live in Ternopil, western Ukraine, added: 'I know how to use a gun. I've been in the army, I did my National Service when I was younger so I can handle a gun.
My wife was in tears when I left and so was my youngest three-year-old but I told them I would stay safe and be back.'
When asked if he was prepared to die, he said: 'Of course, you have to do the right thing. You have to defend your country from an aggressor. Wouldn't you do the same ?'
Leonid added: 'I have some experience of service. I was in Donbas a few years ago but seeing how our brave army is doing made me determined to join them.
'No one expected us to put on such a strong fight for so long but we knew we would. We will not give up our countries.'
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