THE DAD of a British ex-soldier who was captured by the Russian forces while combating for Ukraine fears he might be “tortured” inside hellish prisons.
James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, is alleged to have been taken prisoner throughout fierce combating in Russia’s Kursk area.
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The PoW was paraded by his captors in two separate propaganda movies posted on-line immediately.
His father Scott Anderson mentioned he was in “full shock”, however hoped his son can be used as a “bargaining chip”.
He instructed the DailyMail: “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.”
In a video posted by the Russians, Anderson, sporting inexperienced navy clothes, mentioned he served within the British Military between 2019 and 2023 earlier than travelling to Ukraine.
Extra on Russia-Ukraine warfare
He goes on to inform interrogators he was a non-public in 22 Sign Regiment.
The detainee says he left the Military earlier than making use of on-line to affix Ukraine’s Worldwide Legion.
He provides: “I had simply misplaced the whole lot. I would just misplaced my job.
“I see it on the TV. It was a silly thought.”
In a second video – believed to have been taken shortly after he was captured – his arms are sure in crimson tape.
He’s requested by his interrogator how lengthy he served within the British Military.
He replies: “I study for one 12 months and I keep for 4 years.”
The interrogator then asks: “Why you are available Russia?”
Anderson says: “Commander take my s*** and inform me to return…I do not need to be right here.”
Mr Anderson mentioned he was “in tears” when he watched the 2 movies.
The dad revealed he begged his son to not go and struggle within the warfare.
However the courageous Brit determined to assist the Ukrainians as a result of “he thought what he was doing was proper”.
“When he referred to as me and despatched the video I used to be in full shock and in tears, Mr Anderson mentioned.
“I may see right away it was him. He appears to be like frightened, scared and apprehensive.
“I didn’t need him to go. I did attempt to persuade him to not go – my complete household tried to steer him.
“He wished to go on the market as a result of he thought he was doing what was proper. He was useless towards what was taking place to the Ukrainian individuals.”
The International Workplace is known to be in contact with the household.
A FCDO Spokesperson mentioned: “We’re supporting the household of a British man following studies of his detention.”
Geneva conference on PoWs
By Sayan Bose, International Information Reporter
GENEVA conventions are a set of worldwide legal guidelines that lay the inspiration for humanitarian legal guidelines for troopers and civilians in modern-day armed conflicts.
The worldwide guidelines for prisoners of warfare (PoWs) embrace:
- Human remedy: PoWs should be handled humanely always, and protected against violence, intimidation, insults, and public curiosity.
- Medical care: PoWs should obtain ample medical care, and severely ailing or wounded PoWs should be repatriated instantly.
- Dwelling circumstances: PoWs should be housed in circumstances just like these of the detaining forces, and their dwelling quarters should be hygienic and wholesome. PoW camps should be situated away from fight zones, and clearly marked with the letters “PW” or “PG”.
- Communication: PoWs should be capable of talk with the skin world, together with by writing letters and sending messages. They’ll additionally ship “seize playing cards” to their households and the ICRC to tell them of their whereabouts.
- Launch: PoWs should be launched and repatriated as quickly as hostilities finish.
- Prosecution: PoWs can’t be prosecuted for direct participation in hostilities, however they might be prosecuted for warfare crimes.
- Private belongings: PoWs is probably not disadvantaged of their private belongings.
- Identification: PoWs are solely required to offer their title, rank, date of beginning, and serial quantity.
Final night time, former Brit PoW Shaun Pinner, who was captured initially of the warfare, mentioned he faces a “very harmful” 10 days.
Shaun, 51, a former soldier within the Royal Anglian Regiment, was additionally paraded on TV by the Russians earlier than being sentenced to demise.
He was lastly launched as a part of a prisoner swap deal brokered by former Chelsea proprietor, Roman Abramovich.
Shaun instructed The Solar: “Something he says is underneath duress – we should keep in mind that.
“The video is necessary as a result of the extra individuals it goes out to, the extra individuals know he is alive and that enhances his possibilities.
“Somebody now has a duty for his security.
“Nevertheless it’s necessary that details about his background is saved to a naked minimal.
“Russia might be hoping the video provokes a flurry of data they will use in interrogation.
“My job after I was captured was to get on TV. You need to have the ability to inform the world your situation, what you appear like, who has acquired you.
“There is not any telling what has occurred since then however it is a constructive.”
In 2022 two British-born prisoners of war were sentenced to death by Russia in a kangaroo court docket after becoming a member of the Ukrainian forces.
Heroes Shaun Pinner, 48, and Aiden Aslin, 28, pleaded guilty to “present process coaching with the intention of finishing up terrorist actions” in what was extensively suspected to be a compelled confession.
Shaun was captured during the Russian siege of Mariupol and later handed a merciless sentence in occupied Donetsk.
The previous British Military soldier was freed in September 2022 as a part of a prisoner alternate.
Aiden was additionally captured by Putin’s males in Mariupol, and launched as a part of the identical prisoner launch deal in September 2022.
Each males referred to as The Solar’s information desk weeks earlier than their conviction, declaring they had been Ukrainian residents serving legally within the nation’s military.
Recordings made after they referred to as The Solar present they thought they had been authorized combatants entitled to be handled as prisoners of warfare underneath the Geneva Conference.
However talking concerning the circumstances of his detainment to the BBC, Aiden mentioned: “It is like some outdated Soviet kind of police factor.
“There is not any beds, simply concrete flooring, no rest room, and so they provide you with like a tiny piece of bread a day, only one piece, after which additionally they provide you with a two-litre bottle to share amongst everybody, so you would be fortunate when you get possibly 1 / 4 of a cup of water.
“So it is simply the naked minimal to simply maintain you alive, after which on prime of this, you’ve got individuals that may get taken out – they’re going to discover out one thing about them, and also you simply hear them being crushed.”
ESCALATION IN RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Kyiv launched US ATACMS missiles into Russian territory in a single day on November 11 – and British Storm Shadow rockets just two days later.
In retaliation, Putin fired the hypersonic “Oreshnik” IRBM on the Ukrainian metropolis of Dnipro on Thursday – with chilling footage capturing warheads raining down from the sky.
The Russian dictator then warned he may strike British and US navy targets in his greatest risk but.
In a televised handle on Thursday, Putin mentioned navy amenities contained in the UK and the US could become valid targets for the Russian forces as a direct response to Ukraine’s use of Nato missiles.
He mentioned: “Russia considers itself entitled to make use of weapons towards navy amenities of nations that allow using their weapons towards Russia.
