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| Briton captured while fighting for Ukraine jailed in Russia | Briton captured while fighting for Ukraine jailed in Russia |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A British man who was captured while fighting for Ukraine's armed forces has been jailed for 19 years by a Russian military court. | A British man who was captured while fighting for Ukraine's armed forces has been jailed for 19 years by a Russian military court. |
| James Scott Rhys Anderson was reportedly captured in Russia's Kursk region last November, where Ukraine had launched a cross-border incursion, and was charged with terrorism and mercenary activity. | James Scott Rhys Anderson was reportedly captured in Russia's Kursk region last November, where Ukraine had launched a cross-border incursion, and was charged with terrorism and mercenary activity. |
| The 22-year-old is the first British national to be convicted by Russia during the war. | The 22-year-old is the first British national to be convicted by Russia during the war. |
| The UK Foreign Office said Mr Anderson was sentenced on "false charges" and described him as a prisoner of war. | The UK Foreign Office said Mr Anderson was sentenced on "false charges" and described him as a prisoner of war. |
| A statement released by the Russian court claimed Mr Anderson had pleaded guilty but this cannot be verified, as he has not been heard from independently since he was taken. | A statement released by the Russian court claimed Mr Anderson had pleaded guilty but this cannot be verified, as he has not been heard from independently since he was taken. |
| On Wednesday, a Russian military court ruled that Mr Anderson would spend the first five years of his sentence in prison before being transferred to a penal colony with "strict" conditions. | On Wednesday, a Russian military court ruled that Mr Anderson would spend the first five years of his sentence in prison before being transferred to a penal colony with "strict" conditions. |
| Russian investigators had accused him of "committing a terrorist act" as part of an organised group, illegally crossing the border into Russia, causing "significant damage to property" and having "destabilised" the activities of authorities. | Russian investigators had accused him of "committing a terrorist act" as part of an organised group, illegally crossing the border into Russia, causing "significant damage to property" and having "destabilised" the activities of authorities. |
| But those claims were rejected by a UK Foreign Office spokesperson, who said they "strongly condemn" Mr Anderson's sentencing on "false charges". | But those claims were rejected by a UK Foreign Office spokesperson, who said they "strongly condemn" Mr Anderson's sentencing on "false charges". |
| "Under international law, prisoners of war cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities. | "Under international law, prisoners of war cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities. |
| "We demand that Russia respect these obligations, including those under the Geneva Conventions, and stop using prisoners of war for political and propaganda purposes. | "We demand that Russia respect these obligations, including those under the Geneva Conventions, and stop using prisoners of war for political and propaganda purposes. |
| "We remain in close contact with Mr Anderson's family and are providing consular support." | "We remain in close contact with Mr Anderson's family and are providing consular support." |
| Mr Anderson's three-day trial was held behind closed doors. Video footage released by the Kursk court showed Mr Anderson being led into court in handcuffs wearing a winter hat and jacket that appeared to be prison uniform. | Mr Anderson's three-day trial was held behind closed doors. Video footage released by the Kursk court showed Mr Anderson being led into court in handcuffs wearing a winter hat and jacket that appeared to be prison uniform. |
| Reports of Mr Anderson's capture first came to light after a video circulated online showing a man identifying himself while being captured. In another video, he identified himself as a former British Army soldier from Oxfordshire. | |
| While Mr Anderson is the first UK citizen accused of fighting for Ukraine to be captured and convicted by Russia, two British captives were sentenced to death in Russia-occupied Donetsk - however, they were later released in a prisoner exchange. | While Mr Anderson is the first UK citizen accused of fighting for Ukraine to be captured and convicted by Russia, two British captives were sentenced to death in Russia-occupied Donetsk - however, they were later released in a prisoner exchange. |