'Former British soldier' captured by Russia while fighting in Ukraine

The man identified himself as a former British Army soldier and says he had been fighting in the Kursk region of Russia

A British man, who says he used to be a private in the army, has been captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine.

In a pair of widely circulated videos on Sunday, first posted on Telegram, the man identifies himself as James Scott Rhys Anderson, aged 22, and says he is a former British Army soldier.

He is dressed in combat fatigues and speaks with an English accent while appearing to have his hands tied.

Mr Anderson said to the camera: “I was in the British Army before, from 2019 to 2023, 22 Signal Regiment. Just a private. I was a signalman. One Signal Brigade, 22 Signal Regiment, 252 Squadron.”

He said he signed up to fight for Ukraine’s International Legion after losing his job. “When I left, I got fired from my job, I applied on the International Legion webpage. I had just lost everything. I just lost my job,” he said.

“I see it on the TV,” Mr Anderson added while shaking his head, “it was a stupid idea.”

In a second video, he said his phone and passport had been taken and said: "I don't want to be here."

Mr Anderson described how he had travelled to Ukraine from Britain, saying: “I flew to Krakow, Poland, from London Luton. Bus from there to Medyka in Poland, on the Ukraine border.”

ITV News cannot verify the context of the statements made by Mr Anderson.

Russian state news agency Tass reported that a military source said a “UK mercenary” had been “taken prisoner in the Kursk area” of Russia.

The UK Foreign Office said it was “supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention”.

The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment at this stage.

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