A Tory MP who misplaced his Westminster seat within the common election ultimate yr is now serving within the Ukrainian army.
Jack Lopresti was once the MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, in South Gloucestershire, till Labour’s Claire Hazelgrove secured victory in 2024.
Mr Lopresti, 55, stated on social media he was once now volunteering for the Global Legion of Ukraine, Defence Intelligence.
“It is a large honour and an immense privilege for me to serve within the Ukrainian army and have the ability to lend a hand the gallant and superb Ukrainian other folks whatsoever I will be able to,” he stated.
Mr Lopresti in the past served in the United Kingdom Military Reserve as a corporal, and stated he was once that specialize in charity paintings within the nation, supporting veterans, overseas members of the family and international relations and guns procurement – in addition to army tasks.
It’s going to be 3 years since Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered his military to invade neighbouring Ukraine on 24 February.
Putin stated Russia was once intervening as an act of self-defence. Russia didn’t wish to occupy Ukraine, he stated, however would demilitarise and “de-Nazify” the rustic.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky stated in December about 43,000 Ukrainian squaddies have been killed for the reason that invasion started.
He stated: “They aren’t most effective combating for his or her freedom and their proper to exist as a unbiased and sovereign country, they’re additionally combating for all people, in Europe and the remainder of the unfastened international.
“If Putin wins in Ukraine everyone knows he may not prevent there.
“Dictators should be defeated, or they by no means prevent. The ramifications would even be huge for the remainder of the sector, specifically in puts like Taiwan.
“With the authoritarian axis of dictatorships, China, Iran, and North Korea at the march and obviously operating in combination, Ukraine needs to be supported and given the gear to win for all of our sakes.”
In a commentary, Mr Lopresti stated he had joined a go birthday party UK Parliamentary delegation ultimate week which had visited rehab centres, charities and armed forces leaders.
