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The family of a British soldier allegedly captured by Russian forces while fighting in the Ukrainian resistance have begged Vladimir Putin to “treat him with humanity”.
Images on Russian television appeared to show prisoner of war Aiden Aslin, 28, originally from Nottinghamshire, being led around in handcuffs with a cut on his forehead.
Days earlier, comments posted on his Twitter account, which is being run by a friend while he is fighting with the Ukrainian marines, said he had “no choice but to surrender to Russian forces”.
Footage shared on social media apparently showing Mr Aslin in captivity was allegedly broadcast on Russian state-controlled television channel RT, which was recently taken off air in the UK by broadcasting regulator Ofcom amid concerns it was peddling Kremlin propaganda.
Twitter said last week it would prohibit posts by governments and state-linked accounts that show prisoners of war captured during fighting in Ukraine.
Speaking dispassionately and slowly, in broken sentences, he says: “I fought in beginning, Ukraine was good side.
“But then eventually I see they don’t make right decisions that would end war.”
Mr Aslin enlisted in the Ukrainian army in 2018 and has previously fought against ISIS in Syria for Kurdish militia known as the People’s Protection Units, or YPG.
One of his British former YPG colleagues, Macer Gifford, said on Friday he was now being “used for propaganda” by the Russians.
His mother, Ang Wood, called on the Kremlin to treat her son as a prisoner of war in accordance with international rules, and for the British government to “take Putin down”.
Ms Wood told The Telegraph: “He called me and said they have no weapons left to fight.
“I love my son, he is my hero. They put up one hell of a fight. Boris (Johnson) needs to take Putin down.”
She said she recognised her son from images released in Russia due to his distinctive tattoos.
“It’s Aiden, I can’t deny it. It’s him,” she said.
“I’m in bits. My son will be scared just as we are.
“I now hold Vladimir Putin to the terms of the Geneva Convention. Aiden is a serving member of the Ukrainian armed forces and as such is a prisoner of war and must be treated with humanity.
“It already looks like he has been beaten up. It is time now for the British Government to get involved and help secure Aiden’s release.”
His grandmother, Pamela Hall, said she had expected her grandson would die fighting if “the worst came to the worst”.
She told the BBC: “Obviously I didn’t want that, I wanted the war to end and for him to go home to his fiancee.
“I think all the guys should be treated as prisoners of war according to the Geneva Convention; I appreciate it’s opposing forces, but they’re all human beings.
“We are all just hoping and praying for his safety.”
Mr Aslin had been defending the beseiged city of Mariupol with his unit during heavy fighting in recent weeks.
But after 48 days, he said he had to surrender.
“We have no food and no ammunition,” a post on his Twitter account read.
“It’s been a pleasure everyone – I hope this war ends soon.”
It is understood the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is still working to verify the reports of Mr Aslin’s capture and that its ability to provide consular services in Ukraine is severely limited due to the conflict.
But officials expect any detainees to be treated “in accordance with international law”.
