Malcolm Nance, a retired U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer who gained national prominence as an MSNBC commentator, joined Ukraine’s on the ground war effort about a month ago. The 61-year-old is a member of the country’s international legion.

Clad in armor and holding an automatic weapon in Lviv, Nance told MSNBC’s Joy Reid on Monday night:

“The more I saw of the war going on, the more I thought, ‘I’m done talking, all right?’ It’s time to take action here. I am here to help this country fight… what essentially is a war of extermination. This is an existential war and Russia has brought it to these people and they are mass murdering civilians, and there are people here like me who are here to do something about it.”

Nance implored President Joe Biden to send “heavy weapons” to Ukraine.

“Russia has one advantage on the battlefield and that is long-range artillery,” he told Reid.

“Let me say something to the president of the United States: Give [Ukraine] counter battery long range artillery—multiple rocket launch systems… to out-range the artillery. If you do that, you stop the attacks on civilians because that’s what they’re doing with the artillery.”

Nance also gave an interview to The Daily Beast, telling the outlet:

“The international legion is one of the best-kept secrets in the country. That’s the story. They were higher-level people than I am. Most journalists have never seen an actual member or been following freelancers all over the battlefield. I really can’t tell you how diverse a group it really is. It is literally a multinational force of men and women who are here to defend Ukraine,” the Navy veteran told The Daily Beast. “I was very touched when I met the first platoon and saw they were here for the right reasons.”

Nance told The Daily Beast that he’s no longer on MSNBC’s payroll.

“I let my contract expire and came right over,” he said. “I was through with talking about it.”

He added:

“Also if anybody gives me any f***ing flak just tell them to shut the f**k up since they’re obviously p*ssi*s who have never been in combat. The Legion only takes combat vets. #BOFADEEZ”