A former Wirral soldier is part of team involved in aid missions to help Ukrainian refugees and needs your support.

Aaron Denmark is a member of Veterans In Aid and has been taking donations of medical equipment to the region that has been devastated by the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces.

Aaron, from Wallasey, spent 15 years in the army, serving with the United Nations on peace-keeping tours in Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Bosnia and Afghanistan.

He left the army 12 years ago and has worked in the private security and medical industry ever since.

Explaining how his mission to Ukraine began, he said: "I was sat at work one day and got a message from a colleague who asked if I could get some kit together to help him out as he was going to Ukraine.

"I started off doing that and was sat in work one day and thought 'I can't sit here looking out of the window doing nothing. I've got to do something to help the people in Ukraine'.

Wirral Globe:

Aaron (left) with his Veterans In Aid colleagues as they pack medical supplies to help Ukranian refugees

"I am also member of the Wirral Veterans Mess, which is a group of veterans from Wirral that does other charity work; normally food hampers at Christmas and stuff like that, so I reached out to those guys, family and friends, and put my call for help from the public on social media."

Aaron's call for help has paid off. He explained: "I've had everyone from pensioners and school teachers donating to me at the moment."

Wirral Veterans Group has around 500 members.

Aaron has already been out to Ukraine and is planning to return with more aid soon.

Wirral Globe:

Aaron, pictured during visit to Ukraine

Recalling his first visit, he said: "It was chaos.

"When we first got to the border, that seemed a little bit disorganised, as you can imagine, because at the start of it, aid organisations and Governments need to get things in place.

"But a few weeks later, it still seemed the same.

"I came through one checkpoint and between the border points was nothing for the refugees.

"There were bags of old clothes lying on the roadside, but there wasn't any shelter or anyone handing out water.

"Some of the people had to wait for about an hour and a half to get through.

"There were hundreds of people - those in wheelchairs, young people, old people - who have got their lives in carrier bags.

"They absolutely love any foreigners that are assisting over there at the moment, because they are bringing a skill set, knowledge and a lot are bringing supplies with them.

"Some of the hospitals are screaming out for doctors and nurses to assist at the moment because, if you can imagine, some of the hospitals generally weren't in the best of states in the first place.

"Apart from the normal injuries they are getting in from car crashes, heart attacks, people with illnesses of life, they are getting inundated with people who have got trauma from being bombed, old people who have not been getting medication because they have been hiding in basements and the normal injuries from blasts."

Wirral Globe:

Aaron (right) with his Veterans In Aid colleagues

On the world view of the conflict, Aaron continued: "I think the TV can be a bit sensationalised.

"Don't get me wrong, there are areas where life is going on normally, but again they are out of missile reach.

"There are still checkpoints. There are guys that are fighting at the front who haven't got full body armour and guys in cities in the West, who've got the full kit and it's like 'why hasn't this stuff been pushed to the front."

Appealing to our readers to support the life-saving cause, Aaron said: "Donate what you can. What we are doing is all self-funded. In fact one of the team, who lives in Burton-on-Trent, has spent more than £8,000 to get out to Ukraine.

"The prices in our own country are going up and to say that we are not affected by this and it's not our war, I don't believe that's the truth.

"Originally, I wanted to go out there and fight, but my family said no.

"So, I said 'right well I'll go out there and train them because I've got medical skills and teach the battle casualty drills'."

To donate, go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ut77u-support-for-ukraine-families