British mercenary says he was ‘duped’ into Ukraine conflict by Western media
A UK national captured in Donbass says he has been abandoned by both Kiev and London
© RT
A UK citizen who fought for Ukrainian forces in Mariupol before surrendering in mid-April has told RT that he regrets his decision to fight for Kiev.
Aiden Aslin said the Western media had played a major role in convincing him to support the Ukrainian cause and eventually made him a
“pawn” in a political game.
He was speaking to RT in an interview before a court in Donetsk sentenced him and two other foreigners to death on charges of acting as mercenaries and seeking to seize power by force in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).
Aslin said he had followed the Ukrainian conflict since 2014 and was
“originally pro-Russian” and
“pro-Donbass.” He supported Crimea’s reunification with Russia and believes the people of Donbass have a right to independence.
“My views started to change after I started seeing media reports and stuff that was basically saying that it was not locals but the Russian soldiers that were doing everything [in Donbass],” Aslin admitted, adding that he was watching CNN as well as BBC and Fox News.
23 Jun, 2022 16:09
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Death row UK fighter in Donbass warns family about ‘time running out’
Aiden Aslin has told his relatives that his death sentence in the Donetsk People’s Republic will likely go ahead
British mercenary Aiden Aslin in a courtroom in Donetsk. © AP
British national Aiden Aslin, who was captured in the midst of fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Mariupol, has told his family that his death sentence will likely be carried out.