Reports suggest that a British man was captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine. The man, identified as James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, revealed in a video posted online that he formerly served in the British Army. Russian state news agency Tass quotes a military source as saying that they have detained what they call a “UK mercenary” in Russia’s Kursk area, part of which Ukraine has held following a surprise offensive in August. The Foreign Office said it is supporting Anderson’s family.
Anderson’s online video indicates that he served as a private in the British Army from 2019 to 2023. He went on to join the Ukraine’s International Legion, which is made up of foreign volunteers, after losing his job and seeing reports of the war on TV. Anderson reportedly travelled to Krakow in Poland from Luton and then crossed the Ukrainian border by bus to join the conflict.
In August, Ukraine carried out a surprise offensive into Kursk, advancing up to 18 miles (29km) and gaining control of about 1,000 square kilometres of Russian territory. However, Russia responded by deploying some 50,000 troops to the region, and has been trying to retake territory amid fierce fighting.
The detention of Anderson highlights the presence of foreign citizens in Ukraine’s military conflict, who are fighting either as volunteers in foreign battalions or as part of the Ukrainian armed forces. While many Western countries have voiced their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, they discourage their citizens from joining the fight in Ukraine. In 2015, a Briton who fought against the so-called Islamic State was killed in battlefield action against Ukrainian troops
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