A CHARITY boss delivering food to people outside a church in Ukraine was left in shock after a deadly missile attack landed less than half a mile from him.

Tony Anthony was in north-west Kyiv when he heard the distant sounds of explosions.

Soon after, the church was rocked by a Russian attack that struck around 900 metres away.

The 52-year-old, from Leigh, joined other people in rushing to the nearby homes.

They then discovered an “enormous” crater created by the explosion in the middle of a residential area.

At least one person died in the attack by the invading Russian forces.

Mr Anthony, who was in Ukraine as part of the work by his charity the Great Commission Society, said: “People had been waiting there for hours queuing up outside a small little church – old people, mothers, children.

“We heard bombs go off, I imagine they were missiles as opposed to just shells, and they were shaking everything.

“I heard three – the first two shook the building and you could hear smashing windows.

“Then the third one went off and that was really loud because it was about 800 to 900 metres away from where we were. I was having translating issues with the pastor about what their needs were and then his daughter came rushing in and screaming her head off.”

He added: “Straight away he was frantic and left everything to run over to that place.

“We got there and saw this enormous crater right in the middle of a purely residential area.” Mr Anthony admitted the aftermath of the explosion had left him in shock.

But after the traumatic events he was still able to collect refugees wanting to escape across the Romanian border before returning to Southend.

And despite this experience he will return to Ukraine again to help more people in need later this week.

He said: “These mothers and children are in hiding. We were right there and these buildings were completely damaged with all the glass shattered.

“I saw a dead body lying on the floor, and there were four people that I heard of that were injured.

“It was horrific and I didn’t know what to do. It’s just a small taster of what’s going on daily. I think it must be far worse in some other places “On the route out of Kiev we passed other buildings which were completely on fire.

“It’s awful.”

To donate to the Great Commission Society, visit www.paypal.me/gcsuk or www.greatcommissionsociety.org/donate.

Donations can also be made via bank transfer with sort code 30-98-90 and account number 16270268.