Two brave Ukrainian men left Crawley to battle for their homeland

‘We couldn’t just stand by and watch what is happening to our country’: NICK PISA meets tow two Ukrainian men who have left their wives behind in Crawley to drive more than 1,000 miles and join the battle to protect their homeland

• Oleg Prockiv, 42, and Leonid Korol, 43, left their wives and children behind in UK
• They have decided to take up arms against the Russian forces to fight for Ukraine
• MailOnline found the men as they pulled into a service station at Przemysl
• This was just before they were crossing the border into Ukraine at Medyka 
• Back in Crawley, Oleg’s wife Natalya said she ‘begged them not to go’ to Ukraine

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.

‘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.’

‘Where our families our in Western Ukraine is pretty safe but who knows what will happen after we have dropped off the supplies and head towards Kyiv.’

As they had their pictures taken Oleg even interjected a little gallows humour as he joked: ‘Make you sure you get a good picture. It could be my last photograph.’

Mamuka Mamulashvilli, 43, said the situation was ‘getting more serious’ after Belarus joined up with its Russian and launched an invasion into Ukraine

Back in Crawley, delivery driver 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.

‘I’m so proud of both of them. They have been friends for more than 15 years. Oleg is godfather to our daughter Zlata. Of course I’m proud for what they are doing but I’m worried.

‘I said to them to just drop the supplies off and come straight back but they said they would have to stay and defend Ukraine.

‘When Leonid left Zlata gave him the dragon and said you can be brave like a dragon when you are in Ukraine. I just pray they both come back safe.’

Meanwhile, a mixed martial arts expert who has recruited more than 100 British volunteers to fight against the Russians in Ukraine has appealed for more help.

Mamuka Mamulashvilli, 43, said the situation was ‘getting more serious’ after Belarus joined up with its Russian and launched an invasion into Ukraine.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline he said:’I have now more than 100 guys coming from Britain. We need them. Things are getting very intense.

‘Now that Belarus has joined the situation has changed. I’m appealing for help from UK volunteers and from anyone else who is committed to our cause.’

Posting on the Facebook page of the Georgian National League, a paramilitary unit of foreign fighters he set up after Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, commander Mamulashvilli appealed for help.

A view of the square outside the damaged local city hall of Kharkiv on March 1 as the ‘full scale’ invasion has been launched for nearly a week, since it began on February 24

He said: ‘On Feb 24th Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

‘Russia’s armed forces targets include not only military but civilian areas as well. They attacked residential quarters in cities.

‘The Russian military conducts combat operations near Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants, threatening everyone in the world.

‘Ukraine defends not only its sovereignty but also the values of democracy and freedom in the world.

‘Join us in this battle of democracy against military authoritarianism! The International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine was formed by our president and Chief Commander Volodymyr Zelensky.

Meanwhile, a mixed martial arts expert who has recruited more than 100 British volunteers to fight against the Russians in Ukraine has appealed for more help. Pictured: A view of the square outside the damaged local city hall of Kharkiv on March 1

‘Dear recruits and volunteers, we received thousands of requests from you. Many people ask how to join us or help with arms, medicine, and equipment.

‘We truly appreciate your support and are waiting for you to joing our ranks!’

‘If you want to join us and have military experience please send a message and we will send further instructions to you.’

When MailOnline contacted the number we received a message that said:’If you want to join us the easiest way is to cross the Ukrainian border from Poland. After that reach out via email or phone number in messenger

‘Security service and border guards know about military volunteers. Keep in touch.’

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