A British soldier who served on the frontline in Afghanistan has sold his precious PlayStation 5 to raise money to fly to Ukraine to fight the Russians.
Brave veteran George Parker, 30, spent seven months on frontline infantry in Afghanistan and says Vladimir Putin’s Russian forces “can’t throw anything at him he’s not seen before.”
The soldier said he believed it was his moral duty to fly out to war-torn Ukraine to defend its sovereignty.
Since Ukraine’s President Volydymr Zelensky announced an international call to arms for people to go to Ukraine and help defend his homeland, hundreds of Brits have registered their interest.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star from his home in Broadstairs, Kent, George said that the prospect of entering another warzone didn’t scare him.
“I’m not nervous, I’m more nervous speaking to the media than fighting the Russians,” he said.
After joining the army at age 16, George served with the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment – named in honour of Princess Diana.
During his service, he was stationed in the thick of the action in Afghanistan.
He said: “In Afghanistan, I saw everything the Taliban had to throw against us.
“I was on frontline infantry so I dealt with rocket and bomber attacks.
“I expect what I’ll see in Ukraine will be nothing I haven’t experienced before.”
In order to fund his trip to Ukraine, George sold his beloved PS5 which due to current stock issues has sold out at many UK retailers.
One lucky punter was able to snap it up for a bargain £400 after George advertised it on Facebook marketplace.
He had originally bought it for £550 so made a loss, but he’s adamant it has gone to the right cause – a cause he says he’s willing to die for.
He said: “I feel it’s a duty for soldiers in this country to come to the aid of Ukraine, depending on what their lives are like of course.
“I have mates who’ve said they’d love to come with me but they have wives and children to look after and think of first.
“I’m willing to die for this cause. I think freedom is something we take for granted and we should defend it.
“We should stand up for what’s right and the danger of death comes with the occupation.”
George intends to fly to Poland later this week and travel to the heart of the war.
Far from being a fleeting adventure, George said he intends to sign away two years of his life to the Ukrainian cause, insisting he can make a difference.
He said: “When I arrive I’ll sign up for two years to the Ukrainian Defence. You end up being a reserve unit for foreign fighters.
“Two of my mates are going, they have no military experience. If I get put with them I’ll teach them what I know.
“I hope more and more people come and help the Ukrainians.”
George’s heroic actions may shock some people, but one person who isn’t surprised at all is his mother Paula Nightingale, 57, who said she knew he couldn’t be stopped.
George’s heroic actions may shock some people, but one person who isn’t surprised at all is his mother Paula Nightingale, 57, who said she knew he couldn’t be stopped.
She said: “Me and his stepdad are very worried of course, but there’s no stopping George.
“He went into the army at age 16. He has our love and support, he did seven months in Afghanistan so he’s used to war zones.
“He’ll go into the thick of it, he’s got it all set up. He’ll join up with the foreign fighters, he feels he has skills to share. He wants to defend.
“I support his decision to go 100%, I have to.”
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