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A British man captured fighting on the Ukrainian side in Russia’s Kursk region will face terrorism and mercenary charges that could see him jailed for years, Russian state investigators said yesterday.
Moscow announced in November that its forces had captured James Anderson, describing him as a former British soldier.
Meanwhile, Russian forces are focusing their attacks on the outskirts of the key eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk amid reports of heavy troop losses.
Around half of Russian attacks across the 620-mile front have focused on the area around the city, seen as a gateway to the rest of the Donetsk region, over the last week, Kyiv said.
“The enemy is trying to advance around the clock,” Maksym Bakulin, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian National Guard units fighting in Pokrovsk, said.
The Russian defence ministry claimed its troops had taken control of the village of Novoielyzavetivka, less than 10 miles to the southwest of Pokrovsk.
The Ukrainian military has not confirmed Russia’s claims but DeepState, a Ukrainian war tracker known to have close ties to the military, records the town as being occupied.
Russia brings terrorism charges against British man caught fighting for Ukraine
A British man captured fighting on the Ukrainian side in Russia’s Kursk region will face terrorism and mercenary charges that could see him jailed for years, Russian state investigators said yesterday.
Moscow announced in November it had captured James Anderson, describing him as a former British soldier.
British foreign minister David Lammy said at the time he was aware of the case and London would do all it could to offer him assistance.
Russia’s Investigative Committee released a video yesterday showing a handcuffed Anderson dressed in a prison uniform with a shaven head, being brought into a room for questioning and confirming his name.
In a statement, it said he would face terrorism and mercenary charges for participating “in an armed conflict as a mercenary on the territory of the Russian Federation for financial remuneration”.
It did not say how Anderson pleaded to the charges, some of which are punishable by up to 20 years in jail.
Where Russian forces are making gains in eastern Ukraine: Mapped
What Trump’s intel chief pick Tulsi Gabbard thinks of Ukraine and Russia
Over the past nearly four years, US’s incoming director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has repeated Russia’s arguments about its invasion of Ukraine.
She has suggested Moscow had justification to send troops into the neighboring country. She also endorsed Russian claims that the US and Ukraine were involved in dangerous biological research before the war in unfounded claims.
She has criticised the government of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as a “corrupt autocracy” and has expressed sympathy for Russia’s position, given Ukraine’s desire to join Nato, the Western military alliance.
“This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/Nato had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns,” she posted on Twitter at the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Sweden donates $1.2bn in aid package to Ukraine
Sweden’s defence minister said the Nordic country had agreed to donate its biggest aid package to Ukraine so far, worth 13.5bn Swedish crowns ($1.23bn).
The aid package is Sweden’s 18th since Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The government is now negotiating with suppliers in Sweden and Europe to supply prioritised equipment such as artillery and drones, defence minister Pal Jonson told a press conference.
Mapped: Ukraine-Russia frontline
Russia says air defences down 17 Ukrainian drones
Russia’s defence ministry said late last night that air defence units had downed 17 Ukrainian drones in four southern regions in a period of just over two hours.
A ministry statement said 11 of the 17 drones were downed between 7.50pm and 10pm Moscow time (1650 GMT and 1900 GMT) over the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces hold a chunk of territory since staging a cross-border incursion last August.
The ministry’s post on Telegram said other drones had been downed in Belgorod and Voronezh regions and in the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
The ministry made no mention of damage or casualties on the ground.
The governor of Voronezh region, Alexander Gusev, said “several” drones had been downed over his region on the Ukrainian border. Gusev said there had been no injuries or damage
The Russian glide bombs changing the face of the war in Ukraine
The Russian glide bombs changing the face of the war in Ukraine
Winged explosives weighing up to 1,500 kilograms – and nicknamed the ‘building destroyer’ – have had a devastating impact wherever they have been used, writes Tom Watling. Kyiv is battling them as best it can but needs Western allies to step up and provide more weapons, air defences and ammunition
In ‘2000 Meters to Andriivka,’ Oscar winner takes viewers back to Ukraine’s frontlines
Trump claims he secured peace in Gaza – can he do the same in Ukraine?
Lithuania supplies weapons to Ukraine
Source: independent.co.uk
