Russia may be planning to use two Brit fighters sentenced to death as bargaining tools with Vladimir Putin pushing for a prisoner exchange to bring home a close friend, it is reported.
A Russian-backed court in Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) issued death sentences for Aiden Aslin, Shaun Pinner and Moroccan-born Brahim Saadoun on Thursday, according to Russian state media.
They had all pleaded guilty to "undergoing training with the aim of carrying out terrorist activities", the court was told.
The three men said they will appeal the decision which they must do within one month.
Pavel Kosovan, one of the two Brits lawyers, said they would “likely file for a pardon”, which would pave the way for a prisoner exchange, reported the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Aslin, 28, and Mr Pinner, 48, were detained in April while fighting in Ukraine, before appearing in court in the separatist Donetsk DPR.
According to reports, the trial lasted just three days.
Both men had served in the Ukrainian army for several years and were captured while defending the port city of Mariupol.
After their captures, Mr Aslin and Mr Pinner appeared in videos in April asking to be part of a prisoner swap in exchange for pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, who was being held by Ukraine.
Medvedchuk has said that Putin is godfather to his daughter and he describes him as "a personal friend".
Mr Aslin told a Russian TV reporter after his arrest: “If Boris Johnson really does care like he says he does about British citizens, then he would help pressure Zelensky to do the right thing and return Viktor to his family and return us to our families."
Medvedchuk - dubbed the Prince of Darkness - escaped house arrest before going AWOL just three days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
The 67-year-old is the leader of Ukraine's main opposition party Opposition Platform For Life and has been described as the Russian President's right-hand man over the border.
He was last year detained by Ukraine authorities after a treason case was opened against him, with Medvedchuk denying any wrongdoing.
The Ukrainian security services said in an online post after he was recaptured in April: "You can be a pro-Russian politician and work for the aggressor state for years. You may have been hiding from justice lately.
"You can even wear a Ukrainian military uniform for camouflage.
"But will it help you escape punishment? Not at all! Shackles are waiting for you and same goes for traitors to Ukraine like you."
The post cited Ivan Bakanov, head of the secret services, as saying his operatives had "conducted a lightning-fast and dangerous multi-level special operation" to arrest Medvedchuk but did not give details.
The former lawyer and oligarch has been branded the 'Grey Cardinal' and 'The Prince of Darkness' due his influence in business and politics.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian authorities said Medvedchuk would soon appear in court to face the treason charges, reported the Daily Telegraph.
He is accused of taking national resources and spying on the Ukrainian military on behalf of Russia, with the charges carrying a possible 15-year sentence.
