EXCLUSIVE: AWOL Coldstream Guardsman, 19, is already fighting Russians on Ukrainian front line after being given AK-47 and a uniform – sparking fears that Putin will consider it an act of war

• Four British soldiers have gone AWOL to fight Vladimir Putin in Ukraine
• The member, 19, of Queen’s Guard signed up for Ukraine’s International Legion
• He is said to be armed with gun on the front line in Kyiv fighting Russian troops 
• Friend said he was ‘a really great lad and really believes in what he’s doing’ 

A teenage Coldstream Guardsman who went AWOL is fighting Russian troops on the frontline in Kyiv after signing up for Ukraine’s Foreign Legion, MailOnline can reveal.

The soldier, 19, crossed into Ukraine from Poland earlier this week and joined recruits at a Foreign Legion base 15 miles outside the city of Lviv.

He was made to sign a contract, stating that he would not leave Ukraine until the war finished and ordered to hand over his passport.

He was then given an AK-47 machine gun, provided with uniform and other equipment and sent to Kyiv with other recruits where he is currently fighting. The soldier, who is not being named for security reasons, is one of hundreds of foreigners who are believed to have joined Ukraine’s Foreign Legion.

He is being paid £2,500 per month by the Ukraine foreign legion and his contract prevents him from leaving under martial law. 

A friend who spoke with the soldier told MailOnline: ‘He didn’t want to sit around in England and wanted to put his training to good use to help the people of Ukraine.

‘He’s a great lad and really believes in what he’s doing.

A 19-year-old member of the Queen’s Guard (left and right), whose identity has not been revealed for security reasons, dropped his ceremonial duties as a Coldstream Guardsman and signed up for Ukraine’s International Legion of foreign volunteer fighters

Four active members of the British Army are believed to have abandoned their posts and shipped off the Ukraine to fight the Russian invaders, including one teenager who is a serving member of the Queen’s Guard (stock pic)

Pictured, members of Ukraine’s international legion. Volunteers from the US, UK, Sweden, Lithuania and Mexico have joined

‘He happily signed a contract and handed over his passport because he has no intention of leaving until this war is over.’

Up to four serving British soldiers are believed to be in Ukraine while a number of ex-squaddies are also believed to have joined.

The soldier’s friend added: ‘It’s not that easy to speak to him over there because the signal’s not great but he’s doing OK and was put into action straight away because of his combat training.’

The four British soldiers who went AWOL and plan on fighting for the Ukrainians after Russia invaded the country two weeks ago could be prosecuted under desertion law, the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned this week.

Residents evacuate the city of Irpin, north of Kyiv, on March 10, 2022, as Russia approaches

Civilians erect barricades with bags of sand as a precaution amid Russian attacks in Kyiv

Gutted cars today following a night air raid in the village of Bushiv, 40 kilometers west of Kyiv

Russian forces are currently advancing on Kyiv in an attempt to encircle the capital city

Pictured, volunteers from Portugal and Brazil in Ukraine army fatigues in the days following Putin’s invasion

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The 19-year-old member of the Coldstream Guards regiment reportedly dropped his ceremonial duties as one of the prestigious Queen’s Guards in Windsor and signed up for Ukraine’s International Legion of foreign volunteer fighters.  

After reportedly writing to his parents before booking a one-way flight to Poland, the teenage Coldstream Guardsman is feared to be among four British soldiers who have fled the country for the warzone, sparking panic in the British Army that Russia could use it as a chance to begin World War Three. 

But speaking on Wednesday, Mr Wallace stressed that serving soldiers who have reportedly already travelled to the war zone will face a court martial when they return.

He also warned other Britons not to travel to Ukraine, telling them they would not be there for ‘a selfie and six weeks’ but in the war ‘for real’.

In the Commons, Mr Wallace said any serving personnel who went to Ukraine ‘will be breaking the law and they will be prosecuted when they return for going absent without leave or deserting’.

For other Britons, he said ‘we strongly discourage them from joining these forces’ in Ukraine.

‘The Ukrainians are very clear: you turn up, you are in it for the whole game. You are not in it for a selfie and six weeks, you are in it for real,’ he said,

‘I think we have seen already some people at the borders find that may be not be the right option to follow.’ 

Retired Army chief General Lord Richard Dannatt warned that it could be disastrous if active, serving British Army personnel were to be captured by Russian forces.

A post on the British Army’s internal messaging service read: ‘There has been some recent media coverage relating to foreigners being welcomed into Ukraine to help fight against Russia.

‘To be clear, as members of the British Army, you are not authorised to travel to Ukraine to support the ongoing conflict against Russia in any form, whether you are on leave or not. Please remain professional and focused on your duty and your team.’

The British Army cannot legally prevent retired personnel from travelling to eastern Europe, but full-time and reserve troops have received a stern warning not to take part in the conflict.

Ukraine’s defiant president Volodymyr Zelensky put out a plea in the days following the invasion, appealing for members of the international armed forces community to fly to Eastern Europe and join the war effort.

Around 20,000 volunteers from around the globe have already signed up to fight, with roughly 16,000 already on the ground in Ukraine, including a small contingent of Brits. 

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