Has the world's most dangerous sniper arrived in Ukraine?

Reports have said one of the world's deadliest snipers has arrived in Ukraine, pledging to fight with the Ukrainians against the Russians.

The Canadian sniper nicknamed 'Wali', who has reportedly volunteered as a fighter, previously fought in Iraq in 2015 and was later deployed twice to Afghanistan as a sniper with the Canadian Armed Forces between 2009 and 2011.

Reports say, Wali, a former sniper with the Canadian Army's Royal 22e Regiment is answering Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky's earlier call appealing for members of the international armed forces community to fly to Eastern Europe and join the war effort. 

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Canadian reports say that just last week Wali, was working as a computer programmer in Canada and he has left behind his wife and one-year-old son to join the efforts in Ukraine. 

He reportedly crossed the border into Ukraine from Poland earlier in the month joining up with fellow Canadians and British veterans.

The reports added that he felt "compelled" to join the Ukrainian volunteer forces.

Speaking to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC News), Wali said: "I want to help them. It's as simple as that.

"I have to help because there are people here being bombarded just because they want to be European and not Russian."

Watch: Ukraine – on the ground in Kyiv with a former Royal Marine Commando.

Wali, whose nickname was given to him after his time in Afghanistan as it translates to 'protector' or 'guardian' in Arabic, said he was greeted by Ukrainians with open arms when he came to fight.

The Canadian told CBC News: "They were so happy to have us. It's like we were friends right away.

"A week ago, I was still programming stuff. Now I'm grabbing anti-tank missiles in a warehouse to kill real people. That's my reality right now."

This story has had a similar presence on social media as the Ghost of Kyiv – the nickname given to a mythical pilot credited with shooting down six Russian planes over Kyiv – showing the influence and part social media is playing in the recent conflict.

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