British fighters were just yards away from barracks that were destroyed by a Russian missile barrage that killed 35 Ukrainian soldiers

The Sun can exclusively reveal that British fighters were gathered just yards from where a Russian cruise missile barrage killed 35 Ukrainian soldiers.

Hundreds of British veterans narrowly escaped death in the attack, which occurred only 11 miles from Nato territory.

According to a source, hundreds of western volunteers were crammed into a building near barracks that had been hit by rockets.

“A hundred yards difference, and you’d be looking at hundreds of western casualties,” he said.

“There were passports from all over the world in there — British, Brazilian, Canadian, American, you name it.”

“It was like the canteen from Star Wars.” Gun nuts, biker gangs, tough guys, American religious people there to do God’s work, and war addicts were all present.

“One British guy was bragging about killing someone in a bar fight.”

“Another Brit said he was a Royal Marine who couldn’t reveal his rank or unit — that’s a red flag right there.”

“There is no vetting, no command and control, and no chain of command.” It’s a complete shambles.”

On Sunday morning, Russia launched more than 30 cruise missiles from the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security in Yavoriv, near the Polish border.

The majority of the missiles launched by long-range bombers in Russian airspace were intercepted by Ukraine’s air defence systems.

But eight made it, crashing into barracks at the base where western forces were training local soldiers just before the war began.

Foreign fighters were rumoured to be among the dead and 134 injured, but the legion’s spokesman said none of its members were hurt.

According to the source, the attack was a setback for the legion because dozens of volunteers later fled the base.

“I think they were taken aback when they realised what this was all about,” he said. It’s one thing to say you’re tough.”

Volodymyr Zelensky, the defiant president, delivered another rousing speech to his people via video, reminding them that yesterday was Volunteer Day — “our purely Ukrainian holiday.”

Millions of Ukrainians have joined groups to help the war effort by building anti-tank defences or learning how to use weapons. They were lauded by Zelensky as “prerequisites for the liberation of our entire country.”

As merciless Russian troops targeted residential areas once more, the civilian death toll continued to rise.

Ukraine’s defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, said Putin’s assault on Kyiv had left it looking like a scene from a “apocalyptic movie.”

A city apartment building was bombed while residents were sleeping, killing at least two and injuring three. The 7.40 a.m. local time attack left the nine-story building a smouldering wreck with every window smashed and a staircase burned out. Extendable ladders were used by firefighters to rescue residents from upper floors.

As the grim search for more victims continued, Kyiv’s major, former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, paid a visit to the scene.

Hostomel Airport in northern Kyiv was shelled once more.

A strike on a TV tower in Rivne, to the west of the city, killed nine people. Ukraine, on the other hand, claimed to have shot down four Russian planes and three helicopters in the previous 24 hours.

A dramatic video emerged of an armoured vehicle destroying a Russian tank with the distinctive Z markings.

Russia and Ukraine held a fourth round of peace talks yesterday, but no agreement was reached.

Dominic Raab, the UK’s Justice Secretary, visited The Hague to offer the International Criminal Court legal expertise and technical assistance as it considers war crimes claims.