From his camp outside Kyiv, where Ukraine's armed forces have been protecting the country's capital, Ajay tells me, "I'm not a war tourist or anything like that."
In a heavy Belfast accent, he explains, "I felt pretty content back home sitting with my cat."
Ajay Spence traveled from Northern Ireland to the Ukraine conflict a month ago, after initially contacting the Ukrainian embassy in Dublin.
He was soon on his way to Poland before crossing into Ukraine, having briefed them about his past service with the British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Ajay was inspired to act after seeing news reports of the Russian invasion. "It was simply too much to see," she explained. "It's like expecting a firefighter to walk past a burning home and do nothing."
Ajay was assigned to Ukraine's foreign legion, which is believed to comprise combatants from 50 nations, with the United Kingdom and the United States having the largest contingents.
His regiment was stationed on the front lines in cities near Kyiv that witnessed some of the most intense combat, like as Irpin and Bucha. They aided in the expulsion of Russian soldiers from regions that had been taken.
Their responsibilities included "observation missions, advancing, and drawing out fire," according to him.