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“What the f*** am I doing here? Why am I doing this?” the former NHS care assistant cursed as he was shaken awake by four huge explosions on Ukraine’s frontline.

Moments later as smoke and falling debris cleared, a cacophony of sirens, car alarms and cries from wounded soldiers and civilians filled the air.

Doug Seeburg

A Brit medic is helping save lives in Ukraine[/caption]

Reuters

The doctor formally worked for the NHS, pictured destruction in Ukraine[/caption]

It was a sound all too familiar to the 25-year-old medic from south east England honoured with a special nickname by comrades for saving lives for nearly three years in the trenches.

It was time for “Doc Brit” to conquer his fear yet again and go to work.

The bespectacled young hero – who we cannot identify – was an NHS healthcare assistant working on hospital wards when Russia invaded Ukraine in February, 2022.

Watching Vladimir Putin’s forces’ brutal invasion on TV news, he suddenly felt compelled to help Ukraine and volunteered to join a humanitarian convoy heading to Kyiv.

Former Army cadet “Doc” – whose dad was an SAS medic and mum was an army truck driver – volunteered to become a frontline paramedic

And after nearly three years of carnage that followed, he revealed he has both saved – and taken – lives as a medic and rifleman at the sharp end of Vladimir Putin’s war.

He told The Sun: “I’m primarily a combat paramedic now but Ukraine is so short of soldiers I take part in assaults as well.

“I’m from a big military family and was in the Army Cadets from the age of 10-18, where I learned to handle weapons.

“I now carry an M4 assault rifle or a Kalashnikov into battles and open fire when I have to.

“I can’t be sure that I’ve ever actually killed a Russian but it’s very likely that I have during firefights.

“It’s not something I want to do but in those situations it’s ‘us of them’ – I’ve opened fire on undergrowth where they’re shooting from and kept firing till they stopped.

“But there’s no time to stop and do body counts – you have to keep moving forward if you can.”

Doc joined forces with two other Brit volunteer medics in Ukraine at the start of the war and stayed on after his pals both decided to return to the safety of their old lives.

I’m needed here much more than the NHS needs me back home

The doctor

But he has since forged close links with a battle-hardened group of foreign fighters dubbed The Chosen Company, who specialise in assaulting Russian trenches.

The unit – comprising Britons, Americans, Australians and recruits from across Europe – has posted graphic video of bloody firefights.

And Doc admitted he has come to question why he has fought on after losing six pals – including his best friend – in the continuing “meat grinder” carnage.

He told The Sun: “There’s not a day I don’t ask myself: ‘Why don’t I just go home and watch all of this on my phone or the telly like everyone else?’

“But then I realise I’m needed here much more than the NHS needs me back home.

“It’s been painful losing so many close friends over the past couple of years – three were killed by Russian drones, two by mortars and another was captured and executed.

“My best mate was an ex-US Marines machine gunner called Lance who was killed by a drone last year…he was 28.

“We bonded because we shared the same sense of humour and kept smiling through so many close shaves – but he got unlucky and his time was up.

“It’s a risk we all run out here but if we don’t fight, who else will hold the line against the Russians?”

Doc reckons he has saved dozens of lives treating battlefield trauma wounds under fire.

He said: “I’m always extra cautious going into battle because I know that if I get hit I won’t be able to treat anyone else – and may not be able to treat myself.

“I can never be sure whether my seriously wounded casualties make it – my job is to stabilise them before they’re evacuated to a field hospital.

I ran towards the wounded and found a soldier sitting upright with his right leg missing from above the knee – it was lying about ten feet away from him

The doctor

“But I’ve treated so many battlefield casualties I’d like to think I’ve saved dozens of lives in the time I’ve been here.

“I’ve treated soldiers but also a lot of civilians – the Russians don’t care who they kill.”

Doc has witnessed unimaginable horrors with both the Chosen Company and his previous unit, a volunteer battalion of Ukraine’s 49th Infantry Brigade dubbed “The Suicide Squad.”

But his worst single mass casualty event was an attack in the Kharkiv region town of Barvinkove early in the war – when four Russian bombs tore into a busy street.

He said: “I was about 300 metres away when four huge explosions erupted and knew it was very bad.

“It’s hard to imagine the chaos until you see it – smoke, flames, people with terrible wounds crying out and body parts everywhere.

“I ran towards the wounded and found a soldier sitting upright with his right leg missing from above the knee – it was lying about ten feet away from him.

AFP

The medic has treated many front-line injuries[/caption]

Reuters

Doc has witnessed unimaginable horrors in Eastern Europe[/caption]

“He was silent and in shock and I knew he would bleed to death if I didn’t act quickly so I applied a tourniquet and ran on to the next casualty.

“The second man I got to had been peppered with shrapnel and was in agony with deep holes up one side of his body – I packed his wounds then ran on to the next…

“That was a guy with horrendous burns to his face and chest – it was like a horror movie.”

Doc said he applied six or seven life-saving tourniquets that day as he dashed among dead and dying trying to prioritise scores of casualties.

But nothing could prepare him for the sight of one man he found amid the bloodbath who’d had half his face blown off.

Doc said: “I’m obviously not squeamish and have seen a lot of terrible things out here.

We can’t let the Russians win

The doctor

“But I’ve always had a strange phobia about treating eyes – I would ask someone else to give people eye drops when I was working in the NHS.

“So it was my worst nightmare when I came across this poor man with half of his face gone and his eye ball hanging down

“It was obviously a shocking thing to see but I tried hard not to show it and comfort him and tell him he was going to be ok.

“I could only bandage him as best as I could then move on – but I still wonder how he’s getting on and what he might look like now.”

Brave Doc pledged to steel himself and stay on and fight for Ukraine for “as long as it takes” yesterday.

He said: “I’m not one of those people who can sit back home in the UK watching Ukraine war videos on their phones.

I don’t want to be the guy who sits on the sidelines and does nothing when terrible things are happening – you have to make things change.

“And we can’t let the Russians win.”

Reuters

Russian strikes hit Ukraine[/caption]

EPA

Troops man an artillery position in Kharkiv[/caption]

A CAGE fighter says he is fed up of being teased by other hardmen — because he is called Taylor Swift.

The rising MMA star, 21, got so annoyed with having the same name as the world’s biggest pop star he considered getting it legally changed.

@lewisjamesphelps)

A cage fighter is fed up of being teased because he is called Taylor Swift[/caption]

@lewisjamesphelps)

MMA star Taylor, 21, has considered getting his name legally changed[/caption]

Getty

The Brit fighter has 1,500 Instagram fans, including Swifties who clicked him in error[/caption]

But now he has vowed to Shake It Off and reckons the chart-topping billionaire, 35, could be the key to helping him turn professional.

The 6ft lightweight fighter and electrical apprentice has won three of his four bouts since starting the sport 14 months ago.

Taylor, from Cheltenham, Gloucs, told The Sun: “Even at weigh-ins, people start laughing.

“The worst part is when the announcer is reading out the names before a fight.

“People ask if I’m serious when I tell them my name. It gets a laugh when I’m going through airport security and on the door at clubs.”

The rock and rap loving lad has 1,500 Instagram fans, including Swifties who clicked him in error.

He added: “The name will help. A big part of the sport is about social media and sales. It’s hard to become a pro, so everything helps.”

But he is not a Swiftie himself, saying: “I don’t think I could even name three of her songs.”

MANCHESTER UNITED secured a hard-fought three points against Fulham.

Lisandro Martinez’s deflected strike proved to be the difference in what was the Red Devils’ only shot on target all game.

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Lisandro Martinez’s deflected effort was enough to give United three points[/caption]

Reuters

Alejandro Garnacho struggled amid rumours he could leave the club[/caption]

Harry Maguire impressed but Alejandro Garnacho once again failed to impress in what could have been his Man Utd farewell amid rumours linking him with Napoli and Chelsea.

Here is how SunSport rated the individual performances.

Andre Onana – 7

Good save low down to his left to keep out an Alex Iwobi shot early doors.

Other than that he was barely tested but no glaring errors mean it is a step in the right direction for the Red Devils No1.

Diogo Dalot – 6

Had a difficult time in the first half up against Iwobi who was Fulham‘s main attacking threat.

Switched to the left flank in the second half and supported Garnacho without posing much of a threat.

Matthijs de Ligt – 8

Another strong showing at the back from the Dutchman. Without his support for Dalot, Fulham may have created a goal down United’s right-hand side.

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Harry Maguire – 9

A superb defensive display from the England star who has been one of United’s best players since Amorim took charge.

Pulled off a brilliant header at the back post to deny Rodrigo Muniz a certain goal.

Lisandro Martinez – 8

Superb last-ditch tackle to prevent Emile Smith Rowe from shooting as he burst through on goal.

His goal had a big slice of luck as it was deflected past Bernd Leno but credit to him for having the audacity to shoot.

Noussair Mazraoui – 7

Solid at the back and tried to get forward when he could. United looked more balance with him on the left and Dalot on the right, although the pair swapped at half-time.

Manuel Ugarte – 6

Showed some nice touches and was a bit of a menace in the middle – in a positive and negative sense. Kept a close eye on Smith Rowe and allowed him no time on the ball.

Booked for a foul on Adama Traore and was taken off shortly afterwards with an injury.

Bruno Fernandes – 5

Not at his best. Barely saw the ball in the first half and was not very effective when he did get it.

Amad Diallo – 6

Looked bright on the ball and United’s only real outlet going forward.

He worked tirelessly and pressed really well – his hard work paid off when he found the back of the net in stoppage time but his effort was chalked off.

Alejandro Garnacho – 3

Was cautious on the ball and ran into blind alleys too often. Final ball let him down on the rare occasion he did manage to beat a defender.

Rasmus Hojlund – 4

His hold up play is nowhere near good enough for this system or for a club like United.

He was too gung-ho at times and his erratic nature meant linking up with Amad and Garnacho proved difficult.

Hauled off before the hour mark which says it all about his performance.

Subs:

Leny Yoro (for De Ligt, 58mins) – 6

A more assured display given his shaky start to life in the Premier League.

Joshua Zirkzee (for Hojlund, 58mins) – 5

Like Hojlund he had a difficult time holding the ball up but United improved with him on the pitch.

Toby Collyer (for Ugarte, 76mins ) – 6

Solid display again from the youngster who was often in the right position to clear, including one on the line to stop a Joachim Andersen header from going in.

Kobbie Mainoo (for Garnacho, 80mins) – 6

Provided energy in midfield and shored things up alongside Collyer.

A brilliant one-two with Amad set up the winger to score before VAR ruled Amad offside.

Tyrell Malacia (for Mazraoui, 80mins) – 6

Brought on in an unfamiliar right wing-back role but did what was needed to see out the clean sheet.

GRIEVING families prayed for peace yesterday as a vast military cemetery laid bare Ukraine’s war losses.

The embattled nation is now estimated to have lost about 100,000 troops — more than the capacity of Wembley Stadium — in the 35 months since the start of Vladimir Putin’s invasion.

Doug Seeburg

This vast military cemetery lays bare Ukraine’s war losses[/caption]

Doug Seeburg

100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died since the Russian invasion in 2022[/caption]

Getty

Blue and yellow flags mark graves and faces on tombs[/caption]

Russia has lost up to double that number as its ruthless president pours more men into assaults along Eastern Ukraine’s blood-soaked front line.

But the tyrant has calculated he will eventually win the war as he has more men to toss into the meat grinder than his enemy.

And Ukraine’s toll has now become impossible to hide at military cemeteries across the war-weary nation.

At Kharkiv Cemetery Number 18 yesterday, grieving loved ones braved bone-chilling cold to silently pay their respects.

Flags marked out a yellow and blue sea of sacrifice alongside endless rows of grey stone tombstones etched with the smiling faces of the fallen.

Previously, a few dozen soldiers who died in Russia’s first Donbas incursion in 2014 made up a corner of the graveyard.

But after the February 2022 invasion, their ranks expanded as far as the eye can see to 6,000 in just one cemetery.

Dmytro Neznamov and his elderly mother lit a candle at the war grave of his cousin Andrey Levtesov yesterday.

He told The Sun: “He was an artillery gunner killed by a Russian drone when he tried to save the crew of a tank.

“He was a builder before the war but joined up to defend his country when the Russians invaded and was 46 when he died in June last year.

“His family remember him as a man with a warm heart. But now he’s here with all the others, thanks to Putin.”

The Russian tyrant has said he is ready to negotiate — although hopes were dashed last night when Russia said it would deploy its superfast Oreshnik missiles to Belarus, close to Ukraine’s northern border.

Dmytro said: “We want this war to end. You can see we have lost too many good men.

“I’m proud of Andrey and men like him, but it’s time for the killing to stop.”

About 51,000 Ukrainians are missing, with more than 40,000 civilians dead and wounded.

Defence analyst Paul Beaver told The Sun: “Russia has the huge manpower advantage and a leader with no regard for the human cost to his own people.

“It’s a proper meat grinder.”

Doug Seeburg

The tombstones of fallen Ukrainian soldiers[/caption]

Doug Seeburg

The headstone of a soldier who died in the opening months of the conflict[/caption]

Doug Seeburg

Ukrainian flags stand over the graves[/caption]

Doug Seeburg

Wreaths and flowers are left to pay respects[/caption]

Doug Seeburg

Nick Parker in Ukraine[/caption]

RTE viewers were all left overjoyed as Dancing With The Stars had its fan “favourite” movie week tonight.

The hit RTE show returned tonight with 10 celebrities all hoping to impress judges and viewers by dancing to their favourite movies.

RTE

Tonight was movie week on Dancing with the Stars[/caption]

RTE

Viewers flocked to social media to gush over the dances[/caption]

RTE

Rhys McClenaghan topped the leaderboard tonight[/caption]

Tonight was movie week on Dancing With The Stars, which saw the celebrities dance to some of their favourite movies in hopes to make it through to next week’s show.

Kicking off the night was Aishah Akorede and her pro dancer Robert Rowiński.

The pair danced a sultry Cha Cha Cha to Rescue Me from the movie Sister Act – receiving a final score of 24.

They were followed by an energetic American Smooth performed by Gearóid Farrelly and his pro partner Stephen Vincent.

Gearóid was firmly in charcter as the artful dodger from Oliver, which nabbed them a final score of 22.

Next up was lip syncing sensation Kayleigh Trappe, who rocked the audience and viewers with her Aristocrats performance of a Quickstep.

Their song of choice was the Aristocrats theme which bagged them a final score of 21.

Jack Woolley frightened viewers with his Tango to a song by Lady Gaga from Joker: folie à deux.

Jack came in with a terrific final score from the judges of 23.

Ireland’s favourite weather woman, Joanna Donnelly and her pro partner Maciej Zieba stepped out tonight for a ballroom dance.

Joanne floated as she did her ballroom jig to Mrs Robinson from the movie The Graduate.

Next was Elaine Crowley and her dance partner Denys Samson, who brought the camp and volume with their rendition of You Can’t Stop The Beat from Hairspray.

Their energetic jive gave her a final judge score of 18.

Mrs Brown’s Boys star Danny O’Carroll gave a jaw-dropping performance as he embodied a Gladiator hunk from the movie Gladiator.

They knocked out a Pasodoble to the song that had them come in with a score of 25.

FLYING HIGH

Coming in high from all nine’s last week was Yasmin Seky and her partner Simone Arena.

They embodied characters from the popular Disney movie Moana and knocked it out of the park with their Contemporary Ballroom.

Yasmin’s dance set to How Far I’ll Go came in with a score of 26 from the judges.

Thundering onto the screen next was Kevin Dundon as Shrek where he danced to the song I’m A Believer.

BIG BELIEVER

His Jive received mixed reviews from each judge as he scored a respectable 8.

Rounding off the performances tonight was Olympian Rhys McClenaghan with his partner Laura Nolan.

Rhys’ performance came in just one score off a near perfect 30, as he and Laura finished with two 10s and a 9, getting 29.

RTE viewers flocked to social media to share their love for Movie Week and raved about the standard of each dance.

As tonight’s show began, One viewer tweeted: “My favourite week on #DWTSIRL has arrived!“

Liam wrote: “The standard is so high tonight! Love Movie week!”

Another viewer calling out some low scoring said: “Scores not exactly reflecting the feedback.”

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