A British man who fought for Ukraine has been jailed for 19 years by Russian authorities after he was found guilty of terrorism and mercenary charges.
James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, was tried behind closed doors and was told he would serve five years of his sentence in prison and rest in a penal colony.
He was captured last year fighting for Ukraine near the Kursk border region of Russia.
Ukraine troops broke over into the Kursk region of Russia last year and have maintained a military presence there ever since.
Russian media showed him being led away in handcuffs.
Speaking to ITV News last year, Anderson’s father Scott Anderson said he was “extremely worried” his son would be tortured or killed.
He said his son had been fighting for Ukraine’s International Legion after joining in 2024.
In videos shared by Russian media at the time of his capture Anderson said he previously served in the 22 Signal Regiment of the British Army.
He said he signed up to fight for Ukraine’s International Legion after losing his job.
“When I left, I got fired from my job, I applied on the International Legion webpage. I had just lost everything. I just lost my job,” he said.
“I see it on the TV,” Mr Anderson added while shaking his head. “It was a stupid idea.”
In a second video, he said his phone and passport had been taken and said: “I don’t want to be here.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has previously “we will do all we can” to support Anderson.
Lammy was asked about the reports regarding the man who identified himself in footage as James Scott Rhys Anderson and said he was an ex-soldier.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
