Tortured Brit prisoner Shaun Pinner wins lawsuit against Putin after being electrocuted & beaten in 5-month ordeal

A TORTURED Brit prisoner has won a landmark legal case against Putin after being electrocuted, beaten and starved by Russian troops, The Sun can reveal.

Brave Shaun Pinner, 50, was held in a Russian prison for five months after being captured during the fall of Mariupol in Ukraine in April 2022.

He was stabbed in the leg and struck with a cattle-prod before being released as part of a prisoner exchange.

Shaun, who was later awarded the Order of Courage by Ukraine, appeared in court in Kyiv today.

A judge accepted that he was inhumanely treated during his detention as a prisoner of war (PoW) in the Donetsk People's Republic.

His case - Pinner vs The Russian Federation - could now open the floodgates for other PoWs to make a claim.

Ukrainian citizens held captive by Russian goons could also bring similar cases.

Shaun told The Sun: "Russia needs to be held accountable for the way they treated me and this is the first step.

"This now sets a precedent for other victims of Russia's aggression. 

"Russia will no doubt ignore the judgement handed down by the court.

"If that happens, we will pursue the case through the courts in the UK. We've already begun that process and we won't give up.

"All the victims of war should and will be able to hold Russia accountable for what they have done."

The Russian Federation will be given time to decide if it wants to appeal the ruling.

Sources said it was more likely Moscow would ignore it.

But legal experts said Russia could be forced to pay compensation to PoWs and civilians mistreated in captivity.

Shaun, whose freedom was brokered by former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, said: "This is about getting justice.

"It's not just about me but for others who have been tortured as PoWs and for those like British aid worker Paul Urey who died at their hands.

"This will open the doors to make Russia accountable. 

"When Russia comes back into the real world they are going to have to settle these legal cases.

"Mine is not the only one - there are hundreds more just like it.

"It's not about now, but the future, next year, 10 years, 20 years, time." 

Shaun served with the Ukraine Marines for four years before Russia invaded in February 2022.

He was later captured after trying to escape during the siege of Mariupol and transported to the Donetsk People's Republic.

The former British soldier, who served with the Royal Anglian Regiment, was paraded in front of the world and sentenced to death after a show trial. 

His fellow Brit PoW, Aiden Aslin, will launch his own case against the Russian Federation next week.

In a tweet after the ruling, Shaun wrote: "This is the first step in a long journey but as from today, Russia are guilty, legally. We have set precedence.

"Slava Ukraine."

He added: "While in detention we were exposed to highly unsanitary conditions and severe mistreatment which was in breach of the Geneva Conventions, that offers protection to prisoners of war.

"As I have said previously, this is not about money, this is about justice and making Russia accountable for its inhumane treatment of not just Prisoners of War, but for all those who have been affected by Russian atrocities since the full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022."