Former elite SAS veterans who have fought all over the world since leaving the crack regiment are set to head to Ukraine to fight against Russian forces.

The team members are aged between 40 and 60 and have skills such as being experts in using anti-aircraft and anti-tanks missiles as well as being highly trained snipers.

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.

More than a dozen SAS veterans are now on the ground in Ukraine and more are to travel to the country later this week.

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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.”

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday he is establishing 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.

The British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Sunday that she “absolutely” supports Brits wanting to go to Ukraine to fight against Russian forces.

She was asked on the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme if she would support UK citizens who chose to answer the call, Ms Truss said: “That is something people can make their own decisions about.

“The people of Ukraine are fighting for freedom and democracy, not just for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe.

“Absolutely, if people want to support that struggle I would support them in doing that.”

But the British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Monday he is urging Britons not to fight in the Ukraine

Wallace who is a former British Army officer told Sky News on Sunday, “If you’re keen to help and you’re a United Kingdom citizen, come and join our armed forces.

“Look, there are people who will go… I think what I would say is unless you are properly trained, unless you are a, you know, experienced member of an armed forces, I think there are better ways for you to contribute to the security of Ukraine.”

Truss told Sky News’s Trevor Phillips on Sunday programme that the war in Ukraine could last for “years.”

“I fear this will be long haul, the UK absolutely stands by Ukraine through this very long and difficult conflict.

“This could be a number of years.”