Two captured British fighters face death penalty in Ukraine at the hands of pro-Kremlin separatists
Two Britons arrested in Ukraine have been told they face the death penalty at the hands of pro-Putin separatists.
Shaun Pinner, 48, and Andrew Hill, 35, face a trial for conducting “combat operations” in the self-proclaimed separatist Donetsk People’s Republic.
If convicted, the maximum penalty is execution.
Brit Aiden Aslin, 28, who is also detained by pro-Russian forces, is not on the list of those facing trial.
Earlier this month, Pinner and Aslin were told by prosecutors that they had committed “several crimes against civilians by the DPR.”
All three had fought in Mariupol, where they were held captive by the Russians.
It is not known why Aslin is absent from the list of those facing trial.
Prosecutor General Viktor Gavrilov’s official said in a video: “Following detailed testimony by British citizens Shaun Pinner and Andrew Hill obtained by officers of the DPR’s Office of the Prosecutor General…
“Their participation in the commission of unlawful acts has been established.
“A criminal case against mercenaries regarding the preparation and conduct of combat operations against the DPR has been completed.
“The documents of the case have been submitted to the court for a hearing on the merits of the case.
“Therefore the death penalty (death) can be imposed on the accused under wartime conditions.”
He made no mention of Aslin who had been detained before and warned the maximum penalty was death.
In April, Pinner appeared exhausted when he admitted that he understood the allegations against him.
But he was not seen admitting guilt.
Earlier this month, Pinner and Aslin were told by prosecutor Andrei Spivak that they had committed “several crimes against civilians of the Donetsk People’s Republic”.
“The maximum penalty for these crimes is the death penalty,” he said.
The British men were fighting in Mariupol when they were captured by the Russians.
Aslin and Pinner – who fought with Ukraine’s 36th Marines – have lived in Ukraine for some time and are fully paid members of the country’s military.
Aslin joined the Marines in 2018 while Pinner moved to Mariupol four years ago to be with his second wife Larysa when he joined the Ukrainian Army as a “contract soldier”.
Hill, a father of four from Plymouth, was paraded by Russians on national television last month when he appeared injured with a headband and his left arm had to wear a sling.
He looked tired and scared and kept his head down as he looked at the floor, occasionally glancing up nervously when asked if he would ever come back to England.