Aiden Aslin, from Newark, has been sentenced to death after being captured fighting for the Ukrainian Marines. Alongside fellow British fighter Shaun Pinner and Moroccan man Saaudun Brahim, he was faced with the death penalty in the supreme court of the self-declared People’s Republic of Donetsk.
The trio were made to ‘plead guilty’ to the charges in front of TV cameras. Upon hearing this news, Diane Lukes, 52, who lives in Balderton, where Aiden's family live, said: “It’s awful, absolutely awful, she’s [Aiden's mum] going to be absolutely beside herself.”
Liz Truss, Foreign Secretary, said: "I utterly condemn the sentencing of Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner held by Russian proxies in eastern Ukraine. They are prisoners of war. This is a sham judgement with absolutely no legitimacy. My thoughts are with the families. We continue to do everything we can to support them."
Read more: Live Aiden Aslin updates as Newark man 'sentenced to death' after capture during Ukraine war
Mr Aslin, 28, who also goes by Johnny, moved to Ukraine in 2018 and subsequently became an enlisted member of the Ukrainian army. The former care worker previously spent time in Syria, fighting against ISIS with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).
After joining the Ukrainian Armed Forces, he was defending the city of Mariupol following Russia’s invasion. He ultimately surrendered in the southern port city in mid-April and was later paraded on TV, with Russian state channels making it clear that he was seen as a 'mercenary'.
A 45-minute film was then posted on YouTube, where he appeared to be questioned by Graham William Phillips, a man believed to be from Nottingham who has previously worked for the Kremlin-backed television channel RT. Many people, including Mr Aslin's mum, called on YouTube to remove the video for violating the Geneva Convention. It was later taken down.
Last month, journalist and filmmaker Jake Hanrahan, who sees himself as a friend of Mr Aslin, said: “Aiden is not a ‘mercenary’ as some claim. He has been a full member of the Ukraine Marines for 5+ years now. He’s done all the training etc. He didn’t join recently. He lives in Ukraine and plans to stay there with his fiancé.”
Now, Mr Aslin has been sentenced to the death penalty. Deputy leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council Keith Girling said the situation 'beggared belief'. "It is behaviour that is going back to the Second World War and the German's treatment of prisoners - it is monstrous," he said.
Aiden's family is pleading for the result to be overturned, telling the Newark Advertiser: "We've heard the news from Donetsk and need some time to take everything in. We love Aiden with all our hearts. He and Shaun, as members of Ukrainian armed forces, should be treated with respect just like any other prisoners of war.
"They are not, and never were, mercenaries. We hope that this sentence will be overturned and beseech the governments of the UK and Ukraine to do everything in their power to have them returned to us safely, and soon."
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