A dad-of-two that could "never settle" in civilian jobs after leaving the army was blasted by a Russian landmine while fighting in Ukraine.
James Smith, 33, from Eastham in Wirral, stepped on a Russian landmine while in the South of Ukraine on Sunday, June 18. There was a Russian defensive line and James' team worked to clear a number of landmines before being dropped 20 meters away from Russian trenches.
James, who is a paid part of the Ukrainian Army, said he ran to a wooded area for cover where he accidently stepped on a landmine and was blasted. He was taken to hospital where he underwent a number of operations including one where he lost a toe on his left foot and had a metal rod placed in his foot.
