This is the shocking moment an ambulance donated by Britain to troops in Ukraine was blown up by Russian shelling.

CCTV footage shows the medical vehicle being caught in an explosion after a missile fell next to a children's hospital in the city of Mykolaiv on April 4.

The ambulance had previously been used by the National Health Service and was driven to Ukraine to help war efforts against the Russian invasion.

Dr Mateo Szmidt, a consultant from Prince Charles Hospital in Wales, helped send it to the war-torn country by raising funds through an online campaign. The drive has so far earned 26,000 GBP, allowing two ambulances to be donated to Ukraine.

He said: 'A lot of people contributed to the ambulance, to make everything happen. This is something that is aiding - for it to be targeted is very disheartening.'

He added that he hoped the damaged ambulance can be salvaged while health boards in south Wales continue to raise money for a third one.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine’s Donbas region late February. He said in a public address on February 24: ‘We decided to launch a special military action aimed at demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.’

Over 4.2 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said.