Three mercenaries fighting with Ukrainian troops sentenced to death

The separatist people’s republic of Donetsk, in Ukraine, have condemned to death three alleged mercenaries who fought with Volodymir Zelensky’s troops. These are the British prisoners Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin and the Moroccan Braguim Saadun, according to the local news agency DAN.

The three convicted people acknowledged having committed acts aimed at the violent seizure of power under article 323 of the Criminal Code and having participated as mercenaries in military actions in Ukraine and carrying out terrorist activities, in accordance with article 430.

Shaun Pinner, 48, was captured during the Russian siege of Mariupol after having been linked for years to the Ukrainian army as a soldier. Meanwhile, 28-year-old Aslin, who was also part of Ukraine’s troops since 2018, was captured in April by pro-Russian militias also in Mariúpol, where fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops continues.

Both sent a message to Boris Johnson asking to be exchanged for the pro-Russian politician close to the Kremlin Victor Medvedchuk, arrested for high treason. Their families and the British Government have called on the Russian authorities to treat them with dignity.

“We are obviously deeply concerned about this. We have consistently said that prisoners of war should not be exploited for political purposes,” said Boris Johnson’s spokesman. They insist that, under the Geneva Convention, prisoners of war are entitled to the immunity of combatants and should not be prosecuted for participating in hostilities.

Today they have begun to evacuate elderly people from the Donbas region. The Ukrainian army is moving them away from Severodonestk, where right now there is a living hell.

“It’s a very brutal and very difficult battle. Maybe it’s one of the most complicated in this war. I am grateful to each and every one of those who are fighting. To a large extent, the fate of our Donbas is being decided there now,” said Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenski.

Written by BayRadio