British ex-soldier James Scott Rhys Anderson has been sentenced to 19 years in a Russian jail after being captured while preventing for Ukraine.
Anderson, 22, from Banbury, Oxfordshire, was detained in Russia's Kursk area final November.
He confronted expenses of terrorism and "mercenary actions" in a trial held behind closed doorways.
Anderson is the primary recognized international fighter to be captured and sentenced on Russian territory.
The 22-year-old will serve the primary 5 years of his sentence in jail earlier than being transferred to a high-security penal colony for the remaining time period.
The trial occurred at a army courtroom in Kursk, with Russian state media releasing footage of Anderson in handcuffs and confined to a cage.
In accordance with the courtroom, a Ukrainian soldier from the identical unit testified in the course of the proceedings.
Russian investigators claimed Anderson pleaded responsible to the costs.
Anderson beforehand served as a signalman within the British military's Royal Indicators Corps for 4 years.
He later joined Ukraine's Worldwide Legion to struggle in opposition to Russia following his army service.
In a video interrogation launched on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels after his seize, Anderson claimed he had utilized to the Worldwide Legion after dropping his job.
"I see it on the TV. It was a silly thought," he mentioned within the footage.
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Russian investigators accused Anderson of illegally crossing the border into Russia whereas armed.
He was additionally charged with finishing up "legal acts in opposition to civilians" and inflicting "vital hurt to property".
The authorities claimed his actions have been aimed toward "destabilising the actions of the authorities".
Anderson was captured throughout Ukraine's cross-border offensive within the Kursk area, the place Ukrainian troops have maintained a presence since August regardless of Russian efforts to take away them.
Anderson's father Scott beforehand instructed UK media he had begged his son to not go to Ukraine.
"He needed to go on the market as a result of he thought he was doing what was proper," he instructed the Day by day Mail.
He expressed fears his son could be tortured in captivity.
He defined: "I'm hoping he'll be used as a bargaining chip, however my son instructed me they torture their prisoners and I'm so frightened he'll be tortured."
1000’s of foreigners have travelled to Ukraine since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a name in February 2022.
Many joined models such because the Worldwide Legion, which operates as a part of Ukraine's floor forces.
Russia sometimes treats international fighters as mercenaries quite than prisoners of struggle.
This implies they aren’t afforded normal protections below worldwide legislation – protections that Russia recurrently violates regardless.
The Overseas Workplace has not but commented on Anderson's sentencing.
In November, Overseas Secretary David Lammy mentioned the federal government would supply Anderson with "all of the assist that we are able to".