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Captured British soldiers paraded on Russian TV: 'Sent to be killed'

Disturbing images and footage of two British soldiers fighting against Russian forces in Ukraine emerged online after they were taken hostage.

One video was of Sean Pinner, a former Royal Anglian Regiment soldier, who had joined the Ukrainian Army.

In the video, Mr Pinner looks exhausted and as though he is reading a script.

“I was captured in Mariupol. I am part of the 36 Brigade First Battalion Ukrainian Marines,” Mr Pinner said in the video.

“I was fighting in Mariupol for five to six weeks and now I’m in Donetsk People’s Republic.”

The video was shared by RT News, a Russian state-owned television network.

British national Sean Pinner was reportedly captured by Russian forces while fighting alongside the Ukrainian army. Source: Telegram
British national Sean Pinner was reportedly captured by Russian forces while fighting alongside the Ukrainian army. Source: Telegram

A man can be seen telling Mr Pinner he was "sent to be killed" to be portrayed as a hero, adding he didn't have "a single chance" of reaching his intended destination due to the vast number of Russian troops in the area.

"I had no idea," a dejected-looking Mr Pinner responds.

In an interview with Mail on Sunday back in January, Mr Pinner said he was in Ukraine defending his family and "adopted city".

"Russia started this war. It’s funded by Russia and driven by Russia, but we will fight them, make no mistake about that," he said.

Last week, it was reported another British national fighting in Ukraine had been captured.

Aiden Aslin, 28, joined Ukraine's military in 2018 and at the start of this year he had said he planned on buying a home in Ukraine and starting a family with his fiancée, The Telegraph reported.

Mariupol in eastern Ukraine has been hit with Russian bombardments since the start of the war. Source: Sipa USA via AAP
Mariupol in eastern Ukraine has been hit with Russian bombardments since the start of the war. Source: Sipa USA via AAP

However, British politicians accused Russia for using a video showing Aslin handcuffed, with a cut on his forehead for propaganda purposes, which is in breach of the Geneva Convention.

Mr Aslin and Mr Pinner were fighting alongside each other and it is believed Aslin surrendered when his battalion ran out of ammunition, The Guardian reported.

The Twitter account @cossackgundi reportedly belonged to Mr Aslin and is now being run by his friend, who is advocating for his freedom.

"A better shot of the bashing they gave Aiden," a tweet from last week said.

"So far they're going through what we expected with recorded statements. Russian media are taking a victory lap. Perfectly happy for them to do that if it keeps my friend alive."

British authorities have been in contact with the men's families, however providing consular assistance or obtaining information about British nationals in Ukraine is limited due to the war.

Wife of Putin ally pushes swap deal

It appears the wife of one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's top allies in Ukraine has pleaded with Mr Pinner and Mr Aslin's families.

Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk was charged with treason, accused of selling military secrets to Russia and stealing resources in Crimea last year, Al Jazeera reported.

The Ukrainian secret service arrested Medvedchuk on April 12.

On April 16, The Embassy of the Russian Federation to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland responded to Medvedchuk's wife, Oksana Marchenko's comments directed at the British national's families.

"It's in your power to ask the Prime Minister of your country, Boris Johnson, to influence the Ukrainian leadership and achieve the release of Aiden and Sean by exchanging them for the Ukrainian opposition politician detained by the Kyiv authorities, my husband Viktor Medvedchuk," she said according to the embassy.

With Reuters

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