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Russian soldiers shot at British gardeners trying to rescue Ukrainians

Joe McCarthy inspects an abandoned military vehicle they came across en route to Sumy, Ukraine, to help fleeing refugees (Tik Tok)
A screenshot of a video uploaded by Joe McCarthy inspecting an abandoned military vehicle they came across en route to Sumy, Ukraine, to help fleeing refugees (Tik Tok)

Two landscape gardeners who travelled to Ukraine to help refugees escape to Poland have had to turn back after being shot at by Russian soldiers.

Gary Taylor, 45, and Joe McCarthy, 55, set off last week to rescue people who wanted to escape the crisis in Ukraine but had no transport.

They have completed two "missions" to help people get to safety, taking them across the border to Poland and Romania.

The pair have been sharing some of their journey by livestream and on TikTok clips.

Joe, from Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, and Gary, from Falkirk, emptied out their van, carpeted the back and filled it with sleeping bags and duvets to keep people warm. They have so far raised £18,000 for their mission.

But in a tearful video post on social media on Sunday, Joe’s wife, Fiona, revealed the pair had encountered a Russian convoy.

Fiona said: "Guys, they won't be back online.

"They've had their van raided. They've shot the tyres out, two front tyres.

"They've taken Joe's phone, so all they've got left is Gary's phone.

"They’ll definitely not be back online because the TikTok was all on Joe's phone. I'll keep you updated as much as I can but please, keep praying for them, thank you."

In another message later, she was able to report the pair were safe and getting back on the road.

Joe McCarthy had been sharing his 'mission' online as he and business partner Gary Taylor travelled to Ukraine to help refugees escape the Russian invasion (Tik Tok)
Joe McCarthy had been sharing his 'mission' online as he and business partner Gary Taylor travelled to Ukraine to help refugees escape the Russian invasion (Tik Tok)

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“Some Ukrainians have helped them – they’re at a garage getting new tyres.”

McCarthy said her husband and Taylor had entered the city of Sumy, where they were due to pick up people.

"All the roads were blocked off so they managed to get a police escort in, but they’re now stuck behind a large convoy of army vehicles so it’s going to be a wee while before they actually get to the families they’re picking up and then probably the same trying to get back out again.”

But then later she added: “They’ve had to turn back.

Joe McCarthy's wife Fiona said their convoy had been hit by Russian fire  (Tik Tok)
Joe McCarthy's wife Fiona said their convoy had been hit by Russian fire (Tik Tok)

"The Russian army have fired shots at them as a warning and told them to turn back so unfortunately they won’t be able to get to the families.

"I’m afraid they’ve not been able to collect them.

"I think they're safe-ish for now but there's troops and troops of Russian army passing by them.

"Please pray for them."

McCarthy and Taylor had headed to the city of Sumy, in north-eastern Ukraine close to the Russian border, to drive refugees to the Polish border where makeshift camps have been set up to house people before they are relocated.

Sumy has been under attack by Russia since its invasion started last month.

Racheal Diyaolu, a 19-year-old Irish student, was among hundreds of international students in the city.

After days of sheltering from airstrikes and shelling it is believed she finally found safe passage to Poland with McCarthy and Taylor.

Her sister, Christiana, told the BBC that the men had their phones seized during the attack on Sunday before being told to turn back.

"Luckily they were able to find an alternative route into Sumy and stayed there overnight and then continued their mission this morning," she added.

People remove debris at the site of a military base building that, according to the Ukrainian ground forces, was destroyed by an air strike, in the town of Okhtyrka in the Sumy region, Ukraine February 28, 2022. Irina Rybakova/Press service of the Ukrainian ground forces/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Men remove debris at the site of a military base building in the town of Okhtyrka in the Sumy region (Irina Rybakova/Press service of the Ukrainian ground forces/Handout via Reuters)

The UK government has urged any nationals still in Ukraine to leave, and has asked people not to travel to the area for any reason.

Defence minister Ben Wallace and chief of the defence staff Sir Tony Radakin have urged people not to rush towards “the sound of gunfire”.

Radakin said: “We’ve been very clear that it’s unlawful as well as unhelpful for UK military and for the UK population to start going towards Ukraine in that sense.

“Support from the UK, support in whatever way you can. But this isn’t really something that you want to rush to, in terms of the sound of gunfire. This is about sensible support, based in the UK.”

Watch: Destruction in Ukraine's heavily bombarded Kharkiv