Prepared to die for Putin: British man who joined Russian forces in Ukraine
text_fields
London: A British man who volunteered to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine said he was ''doing the Lord's work''
Aiden Minnis, 37, who is a former National Front member and convicted criminal from Chippenham, Wiltshire, claimed to be willing to die for Putin, NDTV reported citing Metro.
Calling his fellow soldiers his brothers, Minnis said: ‘I trust them and will die for them. They have proven themselves and helped me a lot. We understand each other. A bit of pidgin English and pidgin Russian and sign language. It gets done.’
Minnis faced multiple charges including a racist attack, beating up a homeless man and dangerous driving causing the deaths of two people.
Another British citizen identified as Ben Stimson is also fighting for Putin alongside Minnis understandably in Ukraine’s Donbas region which is under Russian occupation.
Stimson, who hails from Oldham, Manchester, UK in a video said: ‘Every man takes his choice… a lot of us, the foreign volunteers, have chosen to come over to this side, to the Russian side.’
Stimson was jailed in 2015 in UK for joining pro-Russian separatists and later his family cut off communication with him, according to BBC.
“I've cut him off. Before I cut him off he was in Moscow. I've been looking after Ben on and off for years and years. He's on his own now. He's 48 now, he can do what he wants. He's been a constant worry. I want a bit of peace at my age. You never know what he'll do next,’ his father was quoted as saying.
Several videos of the two posing with grenade and various flags appeared on social media with one image showing two dead bodies.
‘Reports of British nationals taking part in Putin's illegal invasion are shocking and their alleged actions are reprehensible. Those who travel from the UK to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return,’ A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) reportedly said.
A former British Army commander called them traitors and it is reported that both men will face cases under the Foreign Enlistment Act of 1870 if they ever return to UK.