However, Denis Pushilin, leader of the internationally unrecognized DNR, downplayed the prospect in comments released by Russian media last week.
“I must first be guided by the court’s decision,” he said.
“By the nature of these articles, these crimes they have committed, I see no reason or precondition to forgive them.
“They came to Ukraine to kill civilians for money. That’s why I don’t see conditions to mitigate or change the sentence.”
He added that the court had “issued a completely fair punishment” to the three fighters.
The British were legitimate fighters serving in Ukraine’s armed forces and have every right to protect prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention, British ministers had previously insisted.
Liz Truss, the foreign minister, said she discussed the case with Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kulebo earlier this month.
Mr Aslin, 28, is a former Newark officer and Mr Piner, 48, is a former British soldier in the Royal English Regiment, both of whom moved to Ukraine in 2018 and signed military contracts with the Ukrainian army.
Brahim Saadun’s family said he enlisted as a contract soldier in the Ukrainian army in 2021.
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