Former fighter in Syria launches medical mission to treat victims in Ukraine

Macer Gifford, who fought against ISIS in Syria, is using his skills to run a medical service based in Lviv

British volunteer fighter Macer Gifford in Raqqa, Syria in 2017. Getty Images

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A British citizen who fought against ISIS in Syria has travelled to Ukraine as a medical volunteer as one of his captured former colleagues was paraded on Russian television.

Macer Gifford, 35, is setting up a supply base in Lviv and plans to travel across Ukraine treating victims of the war. Mr Gifford, who arrived at the Poland-Ukraine border at the weekend, says he has secured hundreds of first-aid kits from the US.

Mr Gifford spent three years fighting for the Kurdish militia known as the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, with Aiden Aslin, 28, who his family say was captured last week in Mariupol. Mr Aslin has been in the country for several years fighting for Ukrainian forces.

Mr Aslin and another British citizen, identified as Shaun Pinner, were shown on Russian state TV asking UK authorities to arrange a swap for Kremlin ally Viktor Medvedchuk, who is detained by Ukraine.

During his time in Syria, Mr Gifford secured hundreds of kits from the US and set up a medical unit in 2016 to train anti-ISIS fighters and distribute the packs.

The former financial trader, who fought in Raqqa in 2017, said he had received hundreds of applications to join the mission in Ukraine.

“The ambition is to create a Ukrainian version of the White Helmets,” said Mr Gifford in a fund-raising appeal. “The people of Ukraine are fighting like lions in defence of their country, we must do our part to support them.

“International volunteers save lives. We proved it in Syria and now we have to bring our skills to Ukraine.”

The mission marks a return to Ukraine for Mr Gifford who spent a frustrating week trying to set up medical training sessions for volunteer units when war broke out.

“The first vehicle and the first three volunteers will be deployed this week,” he said. “Hopefully more volunteers and more vehicles will arrive every week.”