Two British fighters captured by Moscow forces in Ukraine have appeared on Russian state television and demanded to be exchanged for pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk.
It was not clear how freely the two men, Sean Piner and Aiden Aslin, could speak.
Both spoke separately after being invited by an unidentified man to footage broadcast on state television Russia 24.
The two men asked British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to help bring them home in exchange for Ukraine’s release of captured oligarch Mr Medvedchuk, which was shown in a video released at about the same time Monday by Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service. for exchange.
Mr Piner’s and Mrs Aslin’s families have stated that British citizens are not mercenaries or volunteers and should therefore be treated as prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva Convention.
Mr Piner, a former British Army soldier, appeared tired in a video on Russian state television when he said he had been captured in Mariupol while fighting Ukrainian Marines.
The 48-year-old added that he had fought in the besieged city for five to six weeks, but is now in the breakaway region of Donetsk.
In a second heavily edited video, Mr. Pinner, who is from Bedfordshire, appears to have been questioned by a Russian journalist about how he was captured.
He replied: “We were in the factory area of Mariupol.
“In the early hours of Tuesday morning, it was decided to move from the factory area, but we did not know exactly where.
“We left the factory around four in the morning.”
“There wasn’t much time to think,” he said.
Then the Russian reporter appeared and told Mr. Piner that his Ukrainian commanders wanted him killed.
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Image: Mr. Piner is a former British soldier who made Ukraine his “adopted” country
Mr Piner spoke of his fear of being caught in January, telling the Mail on Sunday: “I fear for my life. The Russians will treat us differently if we are caught because we are British. It’s always on my mind that I’ll be caught. “
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Community and Development (FCDO) after his capture, Mr Piner’s family explained how he became involved in defending Ukraine, which he said he considered “his adopted country”.
The statement said: “Sean was a respected soldier in the British Army, serving in the Royal English Regiment for many years. He has served on many tours, including in Northern Ireland and with the United Nations in Bosnia.
“In 2018, Sean decided to move to Ukraine to use his previous experience and training within the Ukrainian army.
“Sean enjoyed the Ukrainian way of life and considered Ukraine his adopted country for the last four years. During this time, he met his Ukrainian wife, who is very focused on the country’s humanitarian needs.
“He advanced in the Ukrainian Marines as a proud member of his unit.”
Image: Mr Piner and Mr Aslin are British nationals who fought in Ukraine
The statement continued: “We would like to clarify that he is not a volunteer or a mercenary, but officially serves in the Ukrainian army in accordance with Ukrainian law.
Mr Aslin of Newark in Nottingham was filmed being handcuffed with a cut on his forehead after surrendering to the Russian military in Mariupol last week.
The 28-year-old defender of the city with his part during heavy fighting in recent weeks before having to surrender after 48 days.
“We have no food or ammunition,” read a Twitter account run by a friend of his as he fought Ukrainian Marines.
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2:04 A British man held by Russians
Mr Aslin’s grandmother said a video on Russian television showing him saying Ukraine was not “making the right decisions” was “propaganda”.
His mother, Angela Wood, told Sky News that her son should be treated as a legitimate prisoner of war after Russian media reports suggested he was a mercenary after his capture.
Ms Wood told Sky News on Friday: “He’s not a mercenary, he’s not a volunteer, he hasn’t been out there in the last month and he thought, ‘I’m going to fight, I’m going to be famous.’
“He has been there for four years and is a legitimate Ukrainian Marine.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with and supports the families of Mr Piner and Mr Aslin.
However, the United Kingdom’s ability to receive information and provide consular services on the ground is severely limited due to the conflict.
Mr Medvedchuk, meanwhile, in his appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, called for an exchange of defenders for the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and all civilians allowed to leave.
Read more: Putin’s ally “Prince of Darkness” Viktor Medvedchuk has been captured
Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) attends a meeting with Ukrainian opposition leader Platform for Life Viktor Medvedchuk in St. Petersburg, Russia, July 18, 2019. Sputnik / Mikhail Klimentiev / Kremlin through REUTERS EDITORS – THIS
The captured politician is the leader of the Opposition Platform – For Life party and is an ally of Putin.
It was not clear how freely the captured politician spoke in the video.
Mr Medvedchuk said he was “asking the Ukrainian side to exchange me for the defenders of Mariupol and its citizens, who are there today and do not have the opportunity to exit safely through the humanitarian corridor”.
He was placed under house arrest last year on charges of treason and terrorist financing, which he denies.
Mr Medvedchuk escaped a few days after the Russian invasion began in February, but was later captured by Ukraine.
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