British father who travelled to Ukraine to 'join resistance' against Russia flees back to UK fearing a 'suicide mission' and after 'getting some real grief' from his wife and son, 16
• Ben Spann, 36, returned to the UK fearing he joined a 'suicide mission' in Ukraine
• Chose to return after 'getting some real grief' from his wife and son, 16, at home
• He had flown into Poland and then crossed over to Ukraine to 'join the resistance'

By LAUREN LEWIS FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 15:53, 15 March 2022 | UPDATED: 16:13, 15 March 2022

A British father who travelled to Ukraine to 'join the resistance' against Russia has fled back to the UK.

Ben Spann, 36, returned to the UK after becoming worried he had joined a 'suicide mission' after he got 'some real grief' from his wife and son, 16, for travelling to the war zone.

Spann, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, went to Ukraine because he 'thought it was the right thing to do' despite having no military experience or connections to the country.

He spent five days in a safe house in western Ukraine with four former British soldiers before deciding it was an 'absolute nightmare' and fleeing back to the UK.

But Spann, who founded the charity Change Your Life Put Down Your Knife, told Sky News he now 'regrets' leaving Ukraine and the older soldiers because 'I feel like I let them down a little bit'.

However, he recommended that other 'non-military people' not to travel to Ukraine because they 'can be more of a burden'.


Ben Spann, 36, has fled back to the UK after travelling to Ukraine to 'join the resistance' against Russia because he got 'some real grief' from his wife and son, 16, for going to the war zone


Spann (pictured with men in military gear in Ukraine) went to Ukraine because he 'thought it was the right thing to do' despite having no military experience or connections to the country

9182736455O1999:
Ukraine should have allowed those jobless Nigerians to fight for them.

we for see if them no for dey beg to come back to the shithole.

Jackanda1:
You have a wife and son who love and need you, but want to go and fight another man's war.

Be thanksful that Chen Chen resistance no catch you

Loewe:
Most of those volunteering think the war is Call of Duty or PUBG, that's why they wanna go and assist Ukraine is fighting Russia.

I've said it that a lot of the volunteers traveling to Ukraine may not make it back cos war is not an action movie. One strike alone can kill you without even knowing what happened till you get to heaven or hell...

Leave the volunteering for people with military experience.