A UK volunteer fighting alongside Ukrainian troops in Mariupol was handcuffed after being captured by Russian forces.
Aidan Aslin, 28, moved to Ukraine in 2018 and later joined the country’s armed forces, but was forced to surrender two days ago after Russian attacks cut off supplies and ammunition to the besieged port city.
An image shared on his official social media account, currently run by one of his friends, shows Mr Aslin in handcuffs, with damaged eyes and a forehead.
A Twitter post read: “I just got this, it looks like they got Aiden.”
It is not known where Mr Aslin, also known as Johnny, is currently being held.
An earlier statement on his Twitter account said: “We received a message from Johnny. “48 days have passed, we have done everything possible to defend Mariupol, but we have no choice but to surrender to Russian forces. We have no food and no ammunition. It was a pleasure for everyone, I hope this war ends soon.
“We are publishing this after a direct consultation with his family. Until we are told otherwise, we will continue to work on sharing the facts of the war. I hope for an exchange of prisoners. “
Mr Aslin had previously used his Instagram page to inform his followers about the conflict, but the page was deleted last week.
Mr Aslin’s mother said she was “in pieces” after recognizing her son’s distinctive Happy Days tattoo in a social media image
(Twitter)
A 28-year-old man from Newark, Nottinghamshire, called his family in the early hours of Tuesday when he told them that his part in Mariupol had run out of ammunition and food and had been ordered to surrender.
He said the 36th Marine Brigade had fought for 48 days and was exhausted. About 1,000 of the 36 men, 300 of whom were injured, are said to have been taken prisoner.
Speaking from his home in Balderton, Nottinghamshire, his mother said she was “in pieces” after recognizing her son’s distinctive “Happy Days” tattoo in a social media image.
Ang Wood said, “It’s Aidan, I can’t deny it. He is. They are his tattoos. There is little hope that it is a forged image, but I can’t see it. I now keep Vladimir Putin on the terms of the Geneva Convention.
Mr Aslin documented his experience in battles with Russian forces on social media
(kazakgundi)
This map shows the extent of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
(Images of the press association)
“Aiden is an employee of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and as such is a prisoner of war and should be treated humanely.
“It simply came to our notice then. It is time for the British government to get involved. and help secure Aiden’s release because he is still a British citizen.
“There is probably hope for an exchange of prisoners organized by the Ukrainians. I’m in bits. My son will be as scared as we are. “
Mr Aslin has previously taken two tours with the Kurdish YPG group in Syria against the so-called Islamic State between 2015 and 2016.
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Additional reporting by SWNS
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