A FORMER soldier has travelled to Ukraine to help fight in the war against Russia without telling his family.

Kieran Perkins, from Brighton, booked a £20 Ryanair flight to the Polish city of Krakow before crossing the border into Ukraine.

In an interview with the BBC, the 35-year-old said he hopes to “chip in” and is willing to fight on the front line.

However, the father of four admitted he had not told his children’s mothers and his family about travelling to Ukraine.

“I didn’t even tell my mum. I just thought because I’m only away for a short period of time - I didn’t want to worry anyone,” he said.

“I’m not expecting to get to the front line in that time. But if everyone chips in to help, then it takes the weight off the people that are really working hard right at the front line.”

Kieran spent five years in the army and worked as an armoured vehicle driver with the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment, having previously served in Afghanistan.

He is one of three British men the BBC met on the Polish-Ukraine border who had travelled to there to help.

Kieran, Elliott Davies, and CJ Darton slept at Przemyśl railway station before walking across the border into Ukraine.

The trio, who served in the army for 19 years between them, were waiting for transport to Lviv, along with other recruits when interviewed by the BBC.

Kieran said: “We were stopped by police on the way out. They said, ‘fair play to you.’ As far as I’m aware we’re not doing anything wrong.”

He said he is planning on staying in Ukraine for two to three weeks before returning home.

CJ Darton, who served with the Royal Anglian Regiment, said: “I just can’t sit at home and watch what’s going on and carry on as usual.”

Asked whether it was the excitement of war that had brought them to Ukraine, he said: “Anyone who thinks we’re war junkies or war tourists needs to stick to watching the news.

“There is no excitement to war. There’s nothing nice about dead kids at the side of the road.”

Elliot, 28, even said he is willing to die in Ukraine.

"I'll help out wherever I can in the field. Anywhere from back to front,” he said.