Ukraine is using mercenaries in the war against Russia
World
A former British soldier, who was fighting in Ukraine, has been captured by the Russian army. Over the weekend, two videos surfaced on Russian Telegram channels featuring a man identifying himself as James Scott Rhys Anderson. In the videos, the bearded man in military fatigues, with his hands tied, speaks slowly in English, providing details about his service as a signalman in the British army between 2019 and 2023. Anderson is 22 years old, according to the information in the video.
Russian news agencies confirmed that a British man had been captured.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Monday that he had been briefed on the situation. "I have been updated about that development in the last couple of days. Of course, we will do all that we can to offer this UK national all the support we can," said Lammy during a break in G7 talks in Italy.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention.”
Anderson reportedly traveled to Ukraine eight months ago to volunteer for Ukraine's International Legion. The exact circumstances of his capture remain unclear, and it is not known when the video was filmed. The International Legion did not respond to requests for comment.
Russian bloggers claim that he was captured near the village of Plekhovo in the Kursk region. "A mercenary from Great Britain, who called himself James Scott Rhys Anderson, was captured. He is now giving testimony," a Russian security source told the state-funded news agency RIA.
While many foreign fighters have been captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, Anderson's capture, if confirmed, would be the first known case of a Western soldier being caught inside Russia. Ukrainian forces occupied part of Russian territory in an audacious offensive earlier this year, but Russian troops have pushed them back and have recaptured about 40% of the lost territory, amid heavy fighting.
Foreign fighters are also present in many other parts of the Ukrainian army. Early in the war, Ukrainian authorities reported that more than 20,000 people from 52 countries had come to Ukraine to fight against Russia, but since then, those numbers have been classified, according to The Guardian.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Monday that he had been briefed on the situation. "I have been updated about that development in the last couple of days. Of course, we will do all that we can to offer this UK national all the support we can," said Lammy during a break in G7 talks in Italy.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention.”
Anderson reportedly traveled to Ukraine eight months ago to volunteer for Ukraine's International Legion. The exact circumstances of his capture remain unclear, and it is not known when the video was filmed. The International Legion did not respond to requests for comment.
Russian bloggers claim that he was captured near the village of Plekhovo in the Kursk region. "A mercenary from Great Britain, who called himself James Scott Rhys Anderson, was captured. He is now giving testimony," a Russian security source told the state-funded news agency RIA.
While many foreign fighters have been captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, Anderson's capture, if confirmed, would be the first known case of a Western soldier being caught inside Russia. Ukrainian forces occupied part of Russian territory in an audacious offensive earlier this year, but Russian troops have pushed them back and have recaptured about 40% of the lost territory, amid heavy fighting.
Foreign fighters are also present in many other parts of the Ukrainian army. Early in the war, Ukrainian authorities reported that more than 20,000 people from 52 countries had come to Ukraine to fight against Russia, but since then, those numbers have been classified, according to The Guardian.
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