Russian forces captured a former British Military soldier who was preventing with Ukrainian troops within the Kursk area, in keeping with reviews on Monday.
In a video, the prisoner of struggle was sitting on a bench together with his hand restrained as he recognized himself as 22-year-old James Scott Rhys Anderson.
Russia’s Tass information company reported on Monday that Russian safety officers confirmed a British mercenary had been captured within the Kursk space.
“I used to be within the British Military earlier than, from 2019 to 2023, 22 Sign Regiment,” Anderson instructed Russian authorities whereas being recorded. “Only a personal. I used to be a signalman. One Sign Brigade, 22 Sign Regiment, 252 Squadron.”
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He expressed remorse for becoming a member of Ukraine in its struggle towards Russia, explaining he had practically misplaced every part.
When he left the army, he obtained fired from his job and utilized on the International Legion (of Ukraine) webpage.
“I had simply misplaced every part. I simply misplaced my job. My dad was away in jail. I see it on the TV,” Anderson mentioned whereas shaking his head. “It was a silly thought.”
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The Worldwide Legion for Protection of Ukraine was created on the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the nation in February 2022.
The Related Press reported that the Legion is a unit of Ukraine’s floor forces that primarily consists of international volunteers.
Anderson reportedly served as an teacher for Ukrainian troops and was deployed to the Kursk area towards his will.
Within the video, he mentioned his commander took his stuff — passport, cellphone and different objects — and ordered him to go to the Kursk area.
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“I don’t wish to be right here,” Anderson mentioned.
The AP couldn’t independently confirm the report, but when confirmed, it mentioned this might be one of many first publicly identified instances of a Western nationwide getting captured on Russian soil whereas fighting for Ukraine.
The U.Okay. Embassy in Moscow instructed the wire officers have been “supporting the household of a British man following reviews of his detention” although no different particulars have been offered.
Anderson’s father, Scott Anderson, instructed Britain’s Each day Mail that his son’s Ukrainian commander knowledgeable him the younger man had been captured.
The senior Anderson additionally mentioned his son served within the British army for 4 years, labored as a police custody officer, after which went to Ukraine to struggle. He instructed the paper he tried to persuade his son to not be a part of the Ukrainian army, and now fears for his security.
“I’m hoping he’ll be used as a bargaining chip, however my son instructed me they torture their prisoners, and I’m so frightened he’ll be tortured,” he instructed Britain’s Each day Mail.
Whereas being questioned, the youthful Anderson talked about how he obtained to Ukraine from Britain, saying he flew to Krakow, Poland from London Luton. From there, he took a bus to Medyka in Poland, which is on the Ukrainian border.
Anderson’s seize comes amid reviews Russia is recruiting tons of of Yemeni males to struggle in its struggle in Ukraine by luring them to Russia beneath false pretenses in coordination with the Houthi terrorist community, as reported by the Monetary Occasions.
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A senior Ukrainian protection official instructed Fox Information that Moscow is making an attempt to contain as many international mercenaries as potential in its struggle towards Ukraine, whether or not from its allies or proxies in poor, impoverished nations.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Protection equally confirmed the report back to Fox Information and mentioned, “Russi[a] has escalated this struggle twice not too long ago. First, once they introduced North Korean fighters, and second, once they used [a] ballistic missile in Ukraine.”
Fox Information Digital’s Caitlin McFall and Nana Sajaia, in addition to The Related Press contributed to this report.