Former Conservative Party Deputy Chairman Jack Lopresti has joined Ukraine’s International Legion to support the fight against Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
The 55-year-old, who lost his seat for Filton and Bradley Stoke to Labour’s Claire Hazelgrove in last year’s election, has traded British politics for military service in Ukraine.
Lopresti, who previously served as a corporal in the UK Army Reserve, initially travelled to Ukraine in November to help a charity but had always intended to join the International Legion.
Based in Kyiv, Lopresti is not serving in a frontline infantry unit but instead carries out vital support work for the Ukrainian military.
Jack Lopresti has been in Ukraine
X/@JackLopresti
His duties focus on foreign relations, diplomacy, weapons procurement and supporting veterans and charities operating in Ukraine.
“I constantly travel across Ukraine,” Lopresti told The Independent, noting that in the past week, he had visited the cities of Kharkiv and Poltava in the country’s east.
The law has recently changed to allow non-Ukrainians to become officers in Ukraine’s army, with Lopresti’s rank currently being processed. Last week, Lopresti joined a cross-party UK Parliamentary delegation travelling across Ukraine.
The group visited veterans rehabilitation centres, Kyiv’s main children’s hospital and Kremenchuk alongside the UK charity Hopefull. The delegation also held meetings with military commanders in Kharkiv, a city that has recently faced drone attacks.
LATEST FROM THE FRONTLINE IN UKRAINE:
Residents leave from a site of apartment buildings hit by a Russian air strike
Reuters
A drone view shows the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Poltava
Reuters
Speaking about his role, Lopresti said: “It is a huge honour and an immense privilege for me to serve in the Ukrainian military and be able to help the gallant and amazing Ukrainian people in any way I can.”
“They are not only fighting for their freedom and their right to exist as an independent and sovereign nation, they are also fighting for all of us, in Europe and the rest of the free world,” he added.
He warned: “If Putin wins in Ukraine, we all know he won’t stop there. Dictators have to be defeated, or they never stop.”
The visit comes as Ukraine continues to face regular aerial assaults, with Ukrainian officials reporting that Russia launched 55 drones overnight into Sunday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Reuters
Former Conservative MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke Jack Lopresti with then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
PA
The Foreign Office has warned that joining the Ukrainian International Legion is illegal, although it’s unclear if this applies to non-combat volunteers.
The Government has not actively enforced this law, with numerous British volunteers serving in Ukraine.
The risks remain significant, highlighted by British volunteers being killed or captured by Russian forces. In November, when Lopresti travelled to Ukraine, another volunteer – reportedly James Scott Rhys Anderson, a 22-year-old former British army soldier – was captured.
Despite these dangers, Lopresti reports that Ukrainian morale remains high. “They are very determined indeed. A very resolute feeling,” he said.