A BRITISH traitor who fled the UK to fight for Vladimir Putin in Ukraine claims he has been given Russian citizenship.
Aiden Minnis, 37, who "hates" the UK and was disowned by his family, boasted about his new Russian passport in a sickening video.
Putin's Kremlin cronies rushed through his citizenship, grasping at the opportunity to have a western toy in their propaganda machine.
A state TV outlet then splashed the video of the spineless former drug addict boasting about his citizenship and joining the frontline.
Minnis, from Wiltshire, brandished his new passport around and bragged in the pathetic video shared online.
He gloated: “I have a Russian passport. I am now Russian.
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“I am relieved because now I know I am safe, safe from prosecution in the UK, safe from false and bogus charges just because I want to come and fight for Russia and fight for a just cause and the people of Donbas.”
Minnis' claim that the passport would protect him from being thrown behind bars in the UK is far from the truth.
It is in fact an internal ID document, not valid for foreign travel - and would not save him from prosecution or jail in Britain.
It also wouldn't prevent the pathetic traitor from being extradited to the UK if he travels to the West.
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In the video he doubled down on his hatred for the UK, saying: “I reiterate that I condemn my country or origin.
“I hate it for what they have done to the people of Donbas, to Russia, and what they continue to do."
Minnis' family back in Britain disowned him after the treacherous Brit joined Putin's illegal war in Ukraine.
They claim they want "Nothing to do with him".
The former National Front thug claims he helps "lay landmines and explosives" that kill Ukrainian soldiers.
He believes he is "doing the Lord's work" by joining Moscow's forces and said he is "willing to die" on the frontline.
Minnis continued in the video: “I am starting a new life in Russia. I am now Russian. I am happy to be Russian."
He made clear he expects Putin’s army to send him into harm’s way on the frontline.
“After my vacation I go to a storm battalion. So things are only going to get tougher for me.
“I know it’s dangerous. War is dangerous.”
The UK government has said on Minnis' warped decision: "Reports of British nationals taking part in illegal invasion are shocking and their alleged actions are reprehensible.
“Those who travel from the UK to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return.”
Minnis - previously convicted for a racist attack - insists he has no plans to return to the UK after serving in Putin's army.
He is one of two Brits unmasked as traitors caught fighting against Ukraine.
His “best British friend in the Russian army” is Ben Stimson, who was previously convicted for terrorism after helping pro-Russian separatists.
The 48-year-old from Oldham shared videos online from the frontline brazenly flaunting Russian military gear and gloating: "Yes, yes, I'm back in Russia. I'm back in uniform."
His dad Martin Stimson, 76, a Morris dancer and former councillor, said the shame of watching his son fight for Putin was too much.
Speaking from his quiet cottage home, tucked away in the village of Mossley, Martin described his son's actions as "crazy".
Martin told The Sun: "He was released from prison and then he told me he was going to Russia to be a teaching assistant.
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"I've had so little to do with him in recent years that I didn't know whether to take it seriously or not.
"He has never shown any interest in joining the forces here, or in fighting in general, so I didn't think it would be fight with the Russian army."