A former ambulance worker from Margate has spoken of his determination to make a difference after travelling into war-torn Ukraine.

Matt Spedding, 29, travelled across the Ukrainian border earlier this week after flying into Poland, and now plans to travel towards the embattled city of Kyiv, together with a group of British ex-military servicemen he met on the trip over.

The former SECAmb associate practitioner, also a freelance court service worker, said he had been on holiday with his girlfriend Rochelle Oliver last week when he decided he needed to take action.

"We were in the Lake District on holiday last Thursday and I said I think I've got to go and help," said Matt. "We had been there a couple of days and had an amazing time but I felt I had to do something. She said have a think, but she knew I had made up my mind.

"She's supporting me but I know I'm putting her through a lot by coming here. If she hasn't supported m I don't think I'd be here."

Mr Spedding spoke to Kent Online from the Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv, where air raid sirens had been sounding this afternoon - and he said he and his team wanted to get close to the capital despite Russian advances on the city.

"It's been a busy afternoon, there's been quite a few sirens today," he added. "Once they know there's artillery nearby they sound them if they're in range. Where I am hasn't had any contact today, which is good but it's not to say it won't happen."

"In Kyiv it's kicking off and it's pretty bad, but we wanted to get as close to Kyiv as possible. I've come here purely to medic, but I did meet some ex military guys on the plane and we've formed a bit of a team. We all had our own vision on what we wanted to do to help but we've clubbed together. "We've also managed to get a Ukrainian interpreter who's staying with us, which will help us make contact with the right people.

"We've tried to help a bit on the way, handing out sweets to kids and trying to just bring a bit more normality back as they cross the border."

Matt described how they has passed a hospital that had been hit in a Russian attack.

"We passed by it at dusk but you could see it was blown to bits. From what we gathered some Russian saboteurs made contact - they put a laser guided missile on the hospital and blew it to bits."

He also said the team had received a lot of help that the Ukrainian people had been very welcoming.

But he admitted tough days lay ahead, and the British team - although equipped with helmets and bergens - were in need of weapons.

"A couple of lads I'm with are here to fight," he said. "They're ex-military and that's what they've come here to do. Basically we've formed a unit and when we get to help people and medevac people they will be there to protect me. We're like brothers already. I did a short spell in the army when I was younger, and that has helped.

"Tomorrow we plan to get some weapons - that doesn't include me - so we can go towards Kyiv to give some medical help. The first people we come to that need help will be the people we help. It may be that we do that over the next couple of weeks, perhaps bringing refugees out.

"Last night the sky was lit up with what was going on at Kyiv. We need to find weapons but we're finding it hard, unless we can come to an agreement. Now we've got a translator hopefully we'll be able to."

"Am I scared? Yes absolutely. Yesterday I was on the phone to my partner and the air raid sirens went off. It was a rush to get helmets and body armour on and hit the deck. I'm putting my girlfriend through all this too.

"I miss her like crazy and I can't wait to see her. All my family and friends have supported me."

Matt said the Ukrainian people had already shown incredible spirit and were determined to resist the Russian invasion, adding: "The Ukrainian soldiers are saying 'when we win', they're mentality is so solid. You can't fight a country with such heart. They're just warriors, they really are.

"We met a guy yesterday with a weapon from 1943 - it was his grandad's - a DPK machine gun. He's got some balls."

But that determination to win also meant they were desperate for help - which meant the Ukrainians were asking volunteers to commit to helping for the duration of the conflict.

"When we got here there was a bus full of ex-military," added Matt. "They invited us on the bus and were trying to take us to an army camp where we had to sign a contract to say we would be here until the end of the war. That wasn't something I was prepared to do. I didn't come here to fight.

"My idea is to come here for three weeks and return home. If I can get a sponsor I might come back over, but I need to check in with the family.

"My plan is to stay here, but I'm self employed and I'm spending a lot of my savings. I can access cashpoints so I can literally take out money and pass it on to Ukrainian refugees, and they can get hot meals and water.

"As much as it's scary, it's safe enough for people if they want to help with humanitarian aid."

And Matt explained he and the British team were enjoying their work, in the knowledge they were making a difference.

"We know we're going to be able to help people and that's what's keeping us moving forward," he added. "The reality is we could die out here. We could get shelled or shot, and that's why we have to make informed decisions each day.

"Even if we save one person, it's one person who can get home and see their family.

"It's not my war and that's why I decided I wouldn't fight but I don't agree with kids and women having to lose their livelihoods and homes. That's what got me. Knowing I could afford to be here, I just felt like it was the right thing to do."

To help Matt's work in Ukraine visit it his fundraising page here.