Russia-Ukraine War: British POW faces death penalty

A British militant captured by Vladimir Putin’s forces could face the death penalty after a pro-Russian criminal probe.

The separatist Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) said the case of British prisoner of war Aiden Aslin had been brought to court.

The DPR Attorney General’s Office said Mr Aslin faces the death penalty.

Mr Aslin, 28, was fighting with Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol when he was captured.

He is one of at least three British men currently being held by pro-Russian forces.

Andrew Hill, 35, and Shaun Pinner, 48, were also arrested and are being held by authorities in the DPR.

Mr. Pinner and Mr. Hill are also being tried as mercenaries and face the death penalty.

Russia’s state-run RIA news agency reported yesterday that the investigation found Mr Aslin had taken part in “Ukraine’s armed aggression to take power in the republic for a reward”.

“The criminal case has been brought to court, the first hearing will take place soon,” it said.

The announcement from the DPR Attorney General’s Office, sent to Telegram, said Mr Aslin had been charged with four separate offences: committing a crime as part of a criminal group; violent seizure of power or violent maintenance of power; be a mercenary; and promoting training in terrorist activities.

“Taking into account the time of war, based on the provisions of the current Main Law, according to the results of the trial, the mercenary may be awarded an exceptional punishment – the death penalty,” the statement said.

If Mr Aslin, Mr Pinner and Mr Hill are convicted, the maximum penalty will be execution – presumably by gunfire – for conducting “combat operations” against the pro-Putin region.

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