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According to emerging reports, Russian forces have taken into custody a British national who had been actively participating in the defense of Ukraine, highlighting the personal risks faced by foreign volunteers in the ongoing war.
A video widely shared online shows a man clad in military attire identifying himself as James Scott Rhys Anderson, a 22-year-old who claims to have previously served in the British Army.
Tass, Russia’s government-backed news agency, has relayed claims from a military insider that a “UK mercenary” has been captured in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces established partial control after their unexpected August offensive.
The UK Foreign Office issued a statement confirming that it is providing assistance to the family of a British citizen after receiving reports suggesting his capture.
Shared first on Telegram, the footage shows Mr. Anderson addressing questions posed by an unseen interrogator, during which he claims to have served as a private in the British Army from 2019 until 2023.
He says he joined the Ukraine’s International Legion – a military unit made up of foreign volunteers – after losing his job and seeing reports on television about the war.
Read also: Ukraine Loses More Than 40% Of Territory Seized From Russia
He says he flew to Krakow in Poland from Luton and travelled from there by bus to the Ukrainian border.
Ukraine launched a surprise attack into Kursk on 6 August, advancing up to 18 miles (29km) and taking control of around 1,000 square kilometres of Russian territory.
Russia has deployed some 50,000 troops to the region, and has begun retaking territory amid fierce fighting.