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Mum of Newark man fighting Russia on the front line says she is proud of her son and her heart breaks for Ukraine




The mum of a Newark man fighting on the Ukrainian front line said she is extremely proud of her son, but her heart breaks for the people of that nation.

Ang Wood said she had heard from Aiden Aslin and that he was exhausted but still in the fight.

“I know Aiden won’t give up — he will keep on fighting,” Ang said.

AIDEN ASLIN is playing his part, and in the words of his mum referencing this picture, has his sense of humour with him, even in times of war. (55171339)
AIDEN ASLIN is playing his part, and in the words of his mum referencing this picture, has his sense of humour with him, even in times of war. (55171339)

Aiden, 28, is with a unit of the Ukrainian Marine Corps that is cut-off and surrounded in the port city of Mariupol.

Mariupol is said to be at the point of humanitarian catastrophe, due to heavy and ongoing Russian bombardment and at risk of falling despite heroic and dogged resistance.

It was where a Ukrainian medic told a photographer to ‘show this to the world’ as he treated in vain a six-year-old girl as she died from injuries caused by a Russian shell.

Ang said: “Things are bad. Russians are trying to surround them, but Aiden and his comrades are fighting hard and they held them off.

“For me, as a mum, I’m scared but also so very proud.

“I’m extremely proud but my heart breaks for the Ukrainian people. Aiden’s fiancee is Ukrainian, and she’s a wonderful lady.”

Aiden, who re-enlisted with war looming after a three-year enrolment ended, is one of two Brits known to be on the front line, but others are in transit to join the fight, many ex-UK military or Special Forces, who are going as volunteers.

Aiden previously told the Advertiser he was prepared to fight and die in defence of Ukraine, where he has dual nationality.

Ang, who was at a special service at Newark Parish Church on Sunday in which prayers were said for Ukraine, said: “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked for volunteers to come and fight and many from around the world are answering that call.

“Back home, the whole Newark community has come together helping the people of Ukraine and the level of support Aiden’s getting from family and friends is amazing.”

Aiden's brother Nathan at home in Balderton.
Aiden's brother Nathan at home in Balderton.

Aiden’s brother Nathan Wood, 25, paid him a visit in Ukraine, arriving home days before the invasion began.

He said from his Balderton home: “We seemed more worried in the West than they were in Ukraine about a war as they’ve been living with the threat since 2014.

“People told me not to go, but I wanted to. I hadn’t seen my brother in four years and I thought it better to take the chance of seeing him rather than potentially never seeing him again.

“Aiden was Aiden, larking about and still with his great sense of humour.

“Contact since the war broke out has been very limited. I have a contact that gets messages to me and I get messages back — really just the odd word.

“Everyone out there fighting the invasion is a hero and so is my brother.

“He was a so-called freedom fighter in Syria and now he’s a soldier in the Ukrainian armed forces. He’s always done what he believes to be the right thing. I’m very proud of him and look up to my big brother.

“He doesn’t believe in red tape getting in the way if something needs to be done, he believes in action and defending the free world.

“He won’t stick on the sidelines when there are innocent people in danger. There are politicians who can learn a lot from him.”



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