AN NHS consultant has been dubbed the Florence Nightingale of Ukraine after leaving her family behind in Britain to help the fight against Russian invaders.

       Dr Iryna Rybinkina, 40, has helped save countless lives after procuring millions of items of unwanted NHS kit which have been sent to frontline field hospitals.

       5

       NHS consultant Dr Iryna Rybinkina has been dubbed the Florence Nightingale of Ukraine Credit: Chris Eades 5

       Iryna worked as an NHS consultant anaesthetist before leaving her family behind in Britain to help the fight against Russian invaders Credit: Chris Eades

       The outdated, surplus or sample stock from sites she worked at across the UK includes ventilators, heart monitors, surgical tools and even operating tables.

       And she is now playing a critical role for the Ukrainian government by helping to mastermind a complex network of supply lines for medical kits and armour from around the world.

       Speaking from her emergency hub in Lviv, the tearful consultant cardiothoracic anaesthetist for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals vowed to defeat monster Vladimir Putin and praised her NHS colleagues.

       Iryna, born to a Ukrainian mum and Russian dad, said: “Since the war started we’ve organised seven trucks from London bringing medical supplies. Eight ambulances are arriving from Ireland.

       Read More on Ukraine

       'LOOKED TERRORIST IN THE EYES' I saved 17 US soldiers from Al-Qaeda suicide bomb blast

       PROPAGANDA Live Ukraine updates as Putin ORDERS Russians NOT to panic buy amid sanctions

       “But kit is coming from across the world. I’ve organised 40,000 tourniquets, 1.5million first aid kits and it has snowballed to multimillion-pound sponsors.

       “I’ve been given heart monitors, cannulas, ventilators, ultrasound and suction machines, laparoscopic tools, needles, anaesthetics, drills, thoracic and surgical instruments, sutures, PPE, uniforms, mannequins, even operating tables.

       “I was able to send huge 900-litre boxes packed on trucks. The amazing NHS put items aside for me. And the equipment is now saving lives. But no matter what I do, it won’t be enough thanks to the evil Putin unleashing missiles on our people.

       Most read in News

       FINAL MOMENTS Pilots 'may have PASSED OUT in 350mph death dive' before battling to save jet

       SHOCK FIND Missing man found dead in FREEZER at abandoned pub 10 years after disappearing

       GRAVE ROW UK’s biggest headstone for ‘traveller king’ Big Willy may be torn down amid fury

       MAD VLAD I taught Putin body language tricks, now he's threatening to destroy us all

       "He is targeting schools and hospitals. He is a monster.

       “But we will defend our country no matter what.

       “And thanks in large part to the NHS, and ongoing kindness from the UK, we will prevail.”

       Iryna left her partner Jacco, 46, and children Daniel, nine, and Alexandra, two, to join the war effort.

       She wept for 24 hours after learning of the Russian invasion then dropped everything to head to the war zone.

       Jacco, who is Dutch, is now looking after the children alone.

       Iryna said: “I told my partner I had to be in Ukraine. He hasn’t stopped crying. I just headed to the airport. It was devastating leaving my children. I was still breast-feeding Alexandra

       “But I had to help my country survive and knew I would never forgive myself if I didn’t head back to help. Jacco has threatened divorce but deep down knows I have to do this.”

       The shattered Angel of Ukraine praised the NHS.

       She said: “I owe the NHS a lot. After being medically trained in Kyiv I was warned against a medical career by my family, so I left for Britain. I never looked back and flourished in the NHS.

       “From day one I was acutely aware of the medical backwater of my homeland and so was allowed to send unwanted items home. My NHS colleagues have been wonderful.

       “I always knew the items would be critical for Ukraine but never imagined they would save lives in a bloody invasion.”

       She has launched training programmes for Ukraine medics that she learned in her NHS stint, also fronting a charity, Smart Medical Aid.

       Her role organising doctors and field hospitals has drawn parallels with 19th century Brit heroine Florence Nightingale, who trained and organised nurses in the Crimean War.

       5

       Iryna has brought ambulances full of kit to Ukraine Credit: Chris Eades 5

       Iryna said: 'The amazing NHS put items aside for me. And the equipment is now saving lives' Credit: Chris Eades 5

       Iryna added: 'I always knew the items would be critical for Ukraine but never imagined they would save lives in a bloody invasion' Credit: Chris Eades

       Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund

       PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears.

       Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun's Ukraine Fund.

       Give as little as ￡3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded.

       Donate here to help The Sun's fund

       Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles

       ￡3 — text SUN￡3

       ￡5 — text SUN￡5

       ￡10 — text SUN￡10

       Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. ￡5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile

       The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis.

       In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world.

       For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund