Australian injured while travelling with other volunteers in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion military unit

An Australian who joined Ukraine’s military forces to fight against Russia’s invasion has been hurt as he and other volunteers came under heavy fire.

The injured Australian is seen limping, being helped by soldiers. Picture: Twitter/ @radiosvoboda

An Australian who joined Ukraine’s military forces to fight against Russia’s invasion has been injured on the frontline of the conflict.

Appearing in a video published by Radio Free Europe, the unidentified soldier was filmed travelling in a truck through Sievierodonetsk, along with other international volunteers in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion military unit.

Ukrainian forces claim to have pushed back against a Russian advance and recaptured a significant portion of that Eastern Ukraine city, according to the region’s governor.

In the video, the volunteers come under heavy fire from opposition forces. The Australian is seen limping to a safer position with his comrades.

The Australian man and other volunteers came under heavy fire. Picture: Twitter/ @radiosvoboda

He is immediately helped by other soldiers, with one of them instructing him to “sit down”. Gesturing to his gun, the Australian then says “can you please unload.”

Another man is shown with blood on his face as the soldiers race to receive medical treatment.

Earlier in the video, the Australian said he hoped his efforts would inspire other people to volunteer for the conflict.

“I’m from Australia, it’s quite far away, quite hard to get here and even I stepped up,” he said.

“So hopefully I inspire more people to come and do the same thing.”

ЗСУ намагаються закріпитися в Сєвєродонецьку та підготуватися до контрнаступальних операцій. Їм на підмогу приїхали підрозділи іноземців із різних країн світу, які добровільно сформували окремий спецпідрозділ і воюють на боці України pic.twitter.com/eruhVgI5kN

— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) June 3, 2022

He said he was “amazed” at how many people had volunteered to help with Ukraine’s war efforts.

“I feel like it’s really inspirational to have a lot of these guys with previous experience to actually lend their hand and step up and volunteer,” he said.

The federal government has urged Australians to not join the war.

“Our message is that Australians should not be participating in foreign conflicts,” Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Sunday.

Australian aid worker Michael O’Neill was killed while providing humanitarian assistance in the war-torn country last month.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the 47-year-old’s death as “a tragedy.”