British war hero 'Rambo' heading back to Ukraine after nearly losing his limbs

01 July 2023 , 11:27

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Shareef "Rambo" Amin is heading back to Ukraine to help evacuate others (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

A British soldier has returned to fight on the frontlines of the Ukraine war after coming close to losing his arm and leg in a firefight with Vladimir Putin's boys.

Shareef Amin, a Bristolian otherwise known as "Rambo", escaped with his life after being pummelled by Russian gunfire.

He was evacuated back to the UK for further treatment at Bristol's Southmead Hospital, after undergoing emergency surgery in Odessa as doctors desperately tried to save his arm and leg.

Mr Amin told the BBC: "I didn't know whether I'd ever be able to operate as a soldier or a humanitarian again."

Mr Amin's body was ripped apart by shrapnel wounds (Shareef Amin / SWNS)

He is now part of a unit called the Dark Angels (Shareef Amin / SWNS)

Though his limbs were saved, Mr Amin was left punctured with multiple shrapnel wounds, and even lost a section of his hand.

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"From the time I had surgery in Ukraine to the time I got to the UK, they took out 19 different pieces of metal," said Mr Amin.

But despite his fears, Mr Amin is currently preparing to return to Ukraine, where he will be performing missions to help others evacuate with a unit of Brit fighters known as the Dark Angels.

Mr Amin was flown back to Bristol where he has undergone rehabilitation to get him back to the battle (Shareef Amin / SWNS)

"We're going into the hotzones, behind enemy lines, to evacuate civilians and soldiers that have been injured like I was," said Mr Amin.

"What happened to me was something that happens in a war, and I've accepted that, and I was lucky enough to stay alive.

"I've got an urge to go back and carry on helping people. That urge never went away," he added.

In its travel advice, the UK Foreign Office advises against travel to Ukraine due to the war being waged against the country.

Mr Amin said Ukraine is only taking soldiers that can contribute to the fight (Shareef Amin / SWNS)

However, the career soldier claims that there is still a large number of former British forces eager to get themselves into the thick of it and battle for Ukraine - even a year-and-a-half after the war began.

"I'm getting messages weekly, mainly the older guys, and they're like 'look I really want to make a difference'," he said.

Ukraine isn't inviting any old soldier into the fight, revealed Mr Amin. They're only looking for soldiers with something to contribute that they need.

All through his recovery, he was still contracted to Ukraine (Shareef Amin / SWNS)

"They're saying we're not interested unless you have something to contribute, you've signed a contract and you're there, you're a value and you can be trusted," he added.

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React Aid humanitarian worker Ewen Cameron, who helped evacuate Mr Amin, will also be returning as a combat medic.

"I just know that I'm capable of doing it," he said.

"It's about keeping them alive so they can keep doing the jobs they do. Every time I go out there, someone needs more help," he added.

Ryan Fahey