Ex-Tory MP, 55, joins Ukrainian foreign legion to fight Putin – & says ‘it’s a privilege to serve’

AN ex-Tory MP has near down authorities and joined the Ukrainian International Legion to combat against Putin's panic invasion.

The erstwhile lawman seat of the Conservative Party, Jack Lopresti, who mislaid his spot astatine the past wide predetermination volition present beryllium based successful Kyiv to assistance logistical enactment for Ukraine’s embattled frontline forces.

Lopresti antecedently represented Filton and Bradley Stoke successful Gloucestershire for 14 years.

The ex-MP had visited Ukraine earlier - portion successful parliament - and was a beardown dependable pushing the authorities to nonstop much wealth to Volodymyr Zelensky.

He was besides the parliamentary president of the Conservative Friends of Ukraine group.

Lopresti went backmost to Ukraine successful November, aft helium mislaid his spot successful July, to assistance a charity.

The ex-MP revealed helium has since decided to articulation the Ukrainian subject arsenic a volunteer.

Lopresti said: “I did use to articulation the legion successful November. It took a portion to find the champion portion to utilize my acquisition and skills.”

He volition not beryllium warring connected the frontline, but his subject duties and absorption see overseas relations and diplomacy, weapons procurement, and immoderate enactment with veterans’ charities successful Ukraine.

A statement connected X said: "He is presently serving with the International Legion of Ukraine Defence Intelligence.

"In summation to his subject duties his absorption includes overseas relations and diplomacy, weapons procurement and supporting veterans and different charities operating successful Ukraine."

The subject volition not beryllium a wholly caller travel for the ex-MP arsenic helium served arsenic a corporal successful the UK Army Reserve, earlier hitting the satellite of Westminster.

Lopresti joined a cross-party UK Parliamentary delegation that travelled crossed Ukraine past week.

He revealed this travel included a sojourn to Kyiv's main children's hospital, veterans' rehabilitation centres, and met with subject commanders successful Kharkiv.

Lopresti said helium believed helium was warring for Ukraine but besides for Europe.

He said: “It is simply a immense honour and an immense privilege for maine to service successful the Ukrainian subject and assistance the gallant and astonishing Ukrainian radical successful immoderate mode I can.

"They are not lone warring for their state and their close to beryllium arsenic an autarkic and sovereign federation but they are besides warring for each of america successful Europe and the remainder of the escaped world.

"If Putin wins successful Ukraine we each cognize helium won’t halt there."

The ex-Tory besides issued a terrifying informing astir Putin's allies.

Lopresti said: "Dictators person to beryllium defeated oregon they ne'er stop.

"The ramifications would besides beryllium tremendous for the remainder of the satellite peculiarly successful places similar Taiwan.

"With the authoritarian axis of dictatorships - China, Iran and North Korea - connected the march and intelligibly moving unneurotic Ukraine indispensable beryllium supported and fixed the tools to triumph for each our sakes.”