British Army veteran, 50, tells how he destroyed Russian tank convoy in night-time ambush in south of Ukraine after he joined 100 strong m

 A British Army veteran has told how he blew up a Russian tank convoy in a night-time ambush in Ukraine, to halt the Kremlin advance.

Former Royal Artillery gunner Zac West, 50, from Worcester is part of a 100-strong militia defending the lives and homes of the people of Zaporizhzhya on the Dnieper river, in the embattled south of the country.Together with his friends and neighbours, Zac, who served for 26 years in the Royal Artillery, mount nightly missions attacking Russian lines and halting the enemy advance.

On Friday night the Briton, who has lived in Ukraine for ten years, led a four-unit combat patrol that destroyed two Russian tanks, an armoured troop carrier and their supply vehicles who were attempting to overrun the strategically important industrial city.

Former Royal Artillery gunner Zac West, 50, from Worcester is part of a 100-strong militia defending the lives and homes of the people of Zaporizhzhya (pictured in Afghanistant)

Mr West spent 26 years in the Royal Artillery (pictured here in Iraq – top row, first on the left)

Zaporizhzhya and its huge nuclear power plant have been the scene of fierce fighting as Ukrainian forces continue to resist the Russian advance.

Speaking last night before he left his base to join a night combat patrol he told MailOnline how his unit was winning the fight.

Zac said: ‘The main Russian assault force on the town is defeated. They are down to 20 per of their battle strength. We have had some success.

‘On Friday night we had had a very eventful night, no sleep and no peace.

‘We managed to ambush a Russian armoured convoy successfully.

‘In retaliation they destroyed a Ukrainian military ambulance, 8 KIA, [killed in action].

‘But in the previous action we destroyed a BMP 2 [armoured troop carrier], two T64 [battle tanks] and some supply vehicles.

‘Four combat patrols went out and all came back home safely.’

He added: ‘We are operating every night.

‘We have knocked out about 50 Russian vehicles and taken about 80 prisoners, mostly 18-year-old kids from Siberia. Conscripts. They don’t know why they are here.’

Zac West (pictured right, at a Royal Artillery Regimental dinner) has a Ukrainian partner and a six-year-old son. He refused to leave when war broke out and vowed to fight for his adopted country

Zac (pictured in Ukraine with his son Adam) is one of hundreds of former British servicemen who have taken up arms in support of Ukraine’s battle against Russia

During his 26 years in the Royal Artillery Zac rose to become operations warrant officer, the highest non-commissioned rank in the British Army.

He served in Iraq in the first and the second Gulf Wars, in Afghanistan as well as in Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Belize, gaining a wealth of military experience.

So it was not surprising that he was approached in the days before the Russian invasion to teach his battlefield skills.

But the 50-year-old, who has an Ukrainian partner and a six-year-old son, refused to leave the country when the war broke out and vowed to fight for his adopted country.

Zac told MailOnline: ‘I’ve been living in Ukraine for the past ten years. I love it. I have a Ukrainian partner and a six year old son Adam.

‘My friends know I was in the army and about two weeks before war broke out they asked me to run a battlefield first aid course.‘Now I help organize ambushes and organize patrols.

‘We operate in sections of about eight to ten and go out at night.

‘There’s about 100 of us fighting together. I’m the only Brit and I’m probably the oldest. But I am the most experienced.

‘There was no way I was going to abandon them. This is my home and I will protect it like every other man here.

‘They are all from Cossack stock, tough people but very kind. Many of the other lads have seen action in the Dombas.’

He added: ‘It is the refugees who I feel sorry for. They have nothing. So I urge people back home to keep supporting Ukraine in whatever way you can.’

During his 26 years in the Royal Artillery, Zac (pictured second from right) rose to become operations warrant officer, the highest non-commissioned rank in the British Army

Zac served in Iraq in the first and the second Gulf Wars, in Afghanistan as well as in Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Belize (pictured here in Cyprus, top row, first on the left)

Zac West is one of hundreds of former British servicemen who have taken up arms in support of Ukraine’s epic David and Goliath battle against Russia.

Anyone under 60 years of age can volunteer to join Ukraine’s Foreign Legion but they must commit to staying with the regiment until the war is over.

However Ukraine is assured of victory due to the population’s overwhelming resolve to resist the Russian invasion, the Foreign Legion spokesman claims.

Corporal Damien Magrou said: ‘I have absolutely no doubt that Ukraine will win the war.

‘Our servicemen and Ukrainian people have shown in the last days of the war that they are ready to sacrifice everything and fight to the last.

‘And you can’t win a war against such a united people.’