PRISONERS OF WAR
Who are Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner?
IN a military court in Donetsk, along with Moroccan fighter Saadoun Brahim, two British men were handed the death penalty.
The treatment of British soldiers Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner has been condemned by the Foreign Office.
Who is Aiden Aslin?
Aiden Aslin is a British soldier fighting in Ukraine against the Russian invasion.
The 28-year-old is a former care worker from Newark, Nottinghamshire.
He had previously fought against Isis in Syria with Kurdish forces, serving with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).
In 2018, Aslin moved to Ukraine and enlisted as a member of the Ukrainian army.
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Accusations from the Russians that Aslin, also known as Johnny, worked as a mercenary were dismissed by friends and family.
Before the death sentence, his mum Angela told The Sun: "I want the Government to help get him out.
"At least while they are posting photos of him I know he is alive, but it is very cold comfort.
"If they are going to use him for propaganda then I hope they do it quickly then let him go.
"They are b*****ds for the way they have treated him."
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Who is Shaun Pinner?
Watford born, former waste manager Shaun Pinner was detained alongside Aslin in Mariupol.
He moved to Ukraine several years ago with his wife and later joined the military.
The 46-year-old was due to finish his three-year military contract later this year and according to reports quoting his lawyer, was hoping to enter a humanitarian role.
Pinner looked close to tears as the separatist court in Donetsk, which is not recognised by the UK government, read out the execution verdict.
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When were the Brits captured in Ukraine?
Both men were captured after being forced to surrender in the city of Mariupol to Russian troops.
They were taken during the siege of Mariupol, back in April 2022, and families had hoped the pair would be used in a prisoner swap.
Images of Aslin emerged in late April, in which he was handcuffed, beaten and bruised.
A video of Pinner was posed on Twitter, in which he explains who he is while looking exhausted.
The clip had the caption: "Another mercenary was caught in Mariupol.
"Shaun Pinner is an English mercenary. He says that he no longer needs the war and he wants to go home. He won't make it home.
"Captured Ukrainian soldiers testify about the atrocities of foreign mercenaries. And after the trial, they face the death penalty."
Why were Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner in Ukraine?
Both men were fighting in the 36 Brigade First Battalion for the Ukrainian Marines.
Although born in Britain, both men had moved to Ukraine years before the war began.
Each had signed up for the Ukrainian military prior to the Russian invasion and were fighting to protect the key city of Mariupol.
Aiden told a UK based friend that it had been 48 days and they had run out of food and ammunition.
He said: ""We tried our best to defend Mariupol but we have no choice but to surrender to Russian forces.
"We have no food and no ammunition. It's been a pleasure everyone, I hope this war ends soon."
Why will Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner be executed?
Russian military have repeatedly accused the men of being mercenaries and were charged with "training in order to carry out terrorist activities".
Both men "pleaded guilty" to this accusation in a pro-Russian court in Donetsk.
The charges carry a sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison or the death penalty, which the men were given.
Pinner also pleaded guilty to the charge of "seizing power by force" which carries an even longer sentence.
They will be executed by firing squad as the court ordered the highest penalty.
Donetsk, proclaiming itself the Donetsk People's Republic, is an area of Ukraine which has been long disputed and is not recognised internationally as its own state.
Journalists were not allowed into the trial, which was held in the shortest possible time, and all the news from the court came via Russian state media.
Pro-Kremlin journalists published only brief videos from the trial.
Downing Street says that the government is "deeply concerned" by the sentences.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted: "I utterly condemn the sentencing of Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner held by Russian proxies in eastern Ukraine.
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"They are prisoners of war. This is a sham judgment with absolutely no legitimacy.
";My thoughts are with the families. We continue to do everything we can to support them."
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