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| Briton captured while fighting for Ukraine jailed for 19 years in Russia | Briton captured while fighting for Ukraine jailed for 19 years in Russia |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| James Scott Rhys Anderson was charged with terrorism and ‘mercenary activities’ after capture in Kursk in November | James Scott Rhys Anderson was charged with terrorism and ‘mercenary activities’ after capture in Kursk in November |
| A British citizen captured while fighting alongside the Ukrainian army has been sentenced in Russia to 19 years in prison on charges of terrorism and “mercenary activities”. | A British citizen captured while fighting alongside the Ukrainian army has been sentenced in Russia to 19 years in prison on charges of terrorism and “mercenary activities”. |
| James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, from Banbury, Oxfordshire, was captured by Russian forces last November while fighting on Ukraine’s side during its cross-border offensive in Russia’s Kursk region. | James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, from Banbury, Oxfordshire, was captured by Russian forces last November while fighting on Ukraine’s side during its cross-border offensive in Russia’s Kursk region. |
| Russian investigators accused Anderson of illegally crossing the border into Russia while armed and carrying out “criminal acts against civilians”, causing “significant harm to property” and “destabilising the activities of the authorities”. | Russian investigators accused Anderson of illegally crossing the border into Russia while armed and carrying out “criminal acts against civilians”, causing “significant harm to property” and “destabilising the activities of the authorities”. |
| The trial took place behind closed doors at a military court in Kursk. Anderson will serve 15 years of his sentence in a high-security penal colony. | The trial took place behind closed doors at a military court in Kursk. Anderson will serve 15 years of his sentence in a high-security penal colony. |
| The court’s press service said Anderson pleaded guilty, and it published a photograph of Anderson in handcuffs and locked in a cage of the kind in which defendants in Russian court cases are placed. | The court’s press service said Anderson pleaded guilty, and it published a photograph of Anderson in handcuffs and locked in a cage of the kind in which defendants in Russian court cases are placed. |
| Britain’s Foreign Office condemned the sentencing on “false charges” late on Wednesday, and called for Anderson to be treated as a prisoner of war. | |
| “Under international law, Prisoners of War cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities,” it said in a statement. | |
| “We demand that Russia respect these obligations, including those under the Geneva Conventions, and stop using Prisoners of War for political and propaganda purposes.” | |
| In November the foreign secretary, David Lammy, said the government would provide Anderson with “all the support that we can”. | |
| While British nationals have previously been captured in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, Anderson is the first known foreign fighter to be captured and sentenced on Russian territory. | While British nationals have previously been captured in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, Anderson is the first known foreign fighter to be captured and sentenced on Russian territory. |
| Russia traditionally treats foreigners fighting with the Ukrainian army as mercenaries and says they are not subject to standard protections offered to prisoners of war – protections that Russia regularly violates in any case. | Russia traditionally treats foreigners fighting with the Ukrainian army as mercenaries and says they are not subject to standard protections offered to prisoners of war – protections that Russia regularly violates in any case. |
| In a video interrogation released on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels after his capture last year, Anderson said he had served as a signalman in the British army for four years before joining Ukraine’s International Legion to fight against Russia. | In a video interrogation released on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels after his capture last year, Anderson said he had served as a signalman in the British army for four years before joining Ukraine’s International Legion to fight against Russia. |
| Anderson’s family later confirmed he was formerly a soldier in the British army’s Royal Signals Corps. | Anderson’s family later confirmed he was formerly a soldier in the British army’s Royal Signals Corps. |
| Since Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a call in February 2022 for foreigners to join the fight against Russia, thousands of people from around the world have travelled to Ukraine. Many have joined units such as the International Legion, known as the most selective of the foreign groups and operating as part of a military unit within the Ukrainian ground forces. | Since Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a call in February 2022 for foreigners to join the fight against Russia, thousands of people from around the world have travelled to Ukraine. Many have joined units such as the International Legion, known as the most selective of the foreign groups and operating as part of a military unit within the Ukrainian ground forces. |
| Anderson’s father previously told British media that he feared his son would be tortured in captivity and that he had begged him not to go to Ukraine. “He wanted to go out there because he thought he was doing what was right,” Anderson told the Daily Mail. “I’m hoping he’ll be used as a bargaining chip,” he added. | Anderson’s father previously told British media that he feared his son would be tortured in captivity and that he had begged him not to go to Ukraine. “He wanted to go out there because he thought he was doing what was right,” Anderson told the Daily Mail. “I’m hoping he’ll be used as a bargaining chip,” he added. |
| One person who spent time with Anderson in Ukraine described him to the Guardian as a “very giggly, positive, funny and energetic person who loves to hang out with his boys … He is observant and is a really fun and comfortable person to be around.” | One person who spent time with Anderson in Ukraine described him to the Guardian as a “very giggly, positive, funny and energetic person who loves to hang out with his boys … He is observant and is a really fun and comfortable person to be around.” |
| In the summer of 2022, two Britons captured while fighting in Mariupol as members of Ukraine’s marines were sentenced to death after a show trial in a court in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. The men were later released as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine that was brokered by Saudi Arabia. | In the summer of 2022, two Britons captured while fighting in Mariupol as members of Ukraine’s marines were sentenced to death after a show trial in a court in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. The men were later released as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine that was brokered by Saudi Arabia. |
| Russia has previously sentenced a 72-year-old American to nearly seven years in prison on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. | Russia has previously sentenced a 72-year-old American to nearly seven years in prison on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. |