An elite squad of ex-SAS troops answered Vlodymyr Zelensky’s calls for help and have been fighting in Ukraine since March.

In March Zelensky established a foreign “international” legion for volunteers from overseas.

“This will be the key evidence of your support for our country,” Zelensky said in a statement at the time.

Last month the crack team who have a combined “120 years of special forces experience” between them killed 15 of Vladimir Putin’s Wagner mercenaries .

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For the past six weeks the elite unit of 12 have been targetting Russian Generals in Ukraine and have killed up to 20.

The SAS team have previously served in many parts of the world whilst they were serving soldiers and more recently fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, they are aged between 29 and 62.

A source told the Daily Star, “They have around 120 years of special forces experience between them.

An unnamed private military firm based in Europe are to fund the SAS operation in Ukraine which is a clever plan as it is does not involve the British military directly.

“They are completely self-supported and have access to explosives, weapons and ammunition. At least two are trained combat medics.”

It has been reported that they were recruited via a WhatsApp group of former members from Hereford and have also been training Ukrainian forces in various tactics.

A source told the newspaper that they have vowed they will not allow themselves to be captured alive by Russian forces.

The source told the Daily Star, “They know they can’t afford to be taken prisoner because in a l likelihood they will be tortured, tried and executed as foreign mercenaries.”

In March an ex-SAS soldier told the Daily Mirror, “This has had to happen very quickly as the situation in Ukraine is now desperate and they need urgent help.

“A lot of ex-parachute regiment colleagues are also very keen to go. Many people are very keen to go and it has had to be organised very quickly.

“It is legal as none of the men going out are still serving and Ukraine has invited people to go in and help the fight militarily.

“It means some of the most experienced veterans in the world will assist Ukraine and link up with Ukraine’s force headquarters.

“And we do know that Putin has a great deal of respect of the SAS.”