British volunteer medic loses arm and leg in Ukraine strike

Eddy, who is originally from Dorset, has been in Ukraine for two and a half years, having previously worked as a sailor on superyachts.

He originally planned to deploy with others from overseas who have supported Ukraine’s defence against the full-scale invasion launched by Russia in February 2022.

However, once the brutality of the war became clear, Eddy reconsidered his options and in October 2022 he drove to Ukraine and joined volunteer efforts to support Kyiv as a combat medic.

When he was injured, Eddy was working with the aid group Base UA, whose field coordinator he credits with saving his life.

In a post on Instagram, the charity accused Russia of shelling humanitarian and civilian organisations in Pokrovsk every day.

Over the last year, Russian forces have gradually expanded the amount of territory they control in eastern Ukraine.

While Ukraine mounted a surprise counter-offensive into Russian territory last summer, its troops have struggle to contain advances in the east.

Russian troops have continued to inch toward Pokrovsk, a mining town which lies around 60km (37 miles) north-west of the regional capital Donetsk, and have targeted major highways and supply routes during their advance.

The settlement is considered a strategically important location for both armies. Before the war, Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad had a combined pre-war population of around 100,000 but most have now fled.