The families of two British men taken prisoner while fighting in Ukraine have hit back at a Tory minister for suggesting they were there ‘illegally’.
The first video released by Russia showed Aiden Aslin handcuffed and badly beaten‘He has lived in Ukraine for four years. His wife is Ukrainian. He must not be labelled as a British mercenary or volunteer. He did not leave the UK to fight in this conflict.’
In a new video uploaded on Monday, Mr Aslin, a 28-year-old ex-care worker from Nottinghamshire, is seen telling the camera: ‘Diane, my wife, I want you to know, I love you. I hope the British Government is able to push this prisoner exchange through so I can return to you and we can build our life in Britain.
‘To my mother and brother and the rest of my family, I also love you. I hope I can see you soon if this prisoner exchange is done.’ He was being interviewed by pro-Kremlin YouTuber Graham Phillips, who demanded Mr Aslin denounce the ‘hero’ status given to him by Western media.Shaun Pinner, 48, is a former Royal Anglian Regiment soldier‘Secondly, my treatment has been good I’ve not been beaten or anything.’
After the video was released, Mr Aslin’s friend, via his personal Twitter account, posted: ‘Why is this even allowed on YouTube? Coerced statements from POWs.More:
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