Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Abigail O'Leary

Brit soldier fighting in Mariupol says his unit has 'no choice but to surrender'

A British soldier fighting alongside Ukrainian marines in the city of Mariupol said his unit has "no choice but to surrender".

Aiden Aslin, 27, contacted his family in the early hours claiming the unit had run out of food and ammunition.

The former care worker from from Newark, Nottinghamshire, had been fighting with the 39th Brigade Ukrainian Marines.

He had posted videos of the fight against Russian forces since the start of the invasion of Ukraine.

After weeks of battling enemy forces, he has reportedly told a friend: "It's been 48 days.

"We tried our best to defend Mariupol but we have no choice but to surrender to Russian forces.

"We have no food and no ammunition. It's been a pleasure everyone, I hope this war ends soon."

Service members of pro-Russian troops drive a tank during Ukraine-Russia conflict on a road outside the southern port city of Mariupol (REUTERS)
Emergency workers remove debris of a building destroyed in the course of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, in the southern port city of Mariupol (REUTERS)

Aiden previously said he was praying for the West to help end the "endless civilian bombings" leaving hundreds of innocent Ukrainians dead, reports the Sun.

It comes as Ukrainian marines say they are surrounded by Russian soldiers in the besieged city of Mariupol.

The 36th marine brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces said it is now relying on cooks, drivers and other non-combat troops to fight Putin's soldiers.

It comes as Kyiv estimated that tens of thousands of people had been killed in the Russian attack on Mariupol.

Ukainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the press in the town of Bucha, northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv (AFP via Getty Images)

Much of the city has been devastated by Russian bombs, including the Mariupol theatre, where hundreds of people were killed.

The 36th marine brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces wrote on Facebook : "Today will probably be the last battle, as the ammunition is running out.

"It's death for some of us, and captivity for the rest."

Commenting on the destruction in the city, President Voloymyr Zelensky said: "Mariupol has been destroyed, there are tens of thousands of dead, but even despite this, the Russians are not stopping their offensive."

At least 300 people taking shelter at a theatre in Mariupol were killed by a Russian airstrike as Vladimir Putin's war rages.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.