Russia claims captured British fighter Aiden Aslin is being cared for after he is filmed handcuffed
Russia's foreign ministry has claimed Brits captured fighting with Ukrainian forces in Mariupol are "mercernaries" - but has insisted they are being cared for.
The captured group includes Nottinghamshire man, Aiden Aslin, who appeared handcuffed in a YouTube “interview” apparently conducted in Donetsk earlier this week.
Mr Aslin, a former care worker from Newark, previously fought with Kurdish forces in Syria against the Islamic State.
His family has denied he is a mercenary, and labelled the Kremlin's earlier statements "propaganda."
In a fresh statement posted on social media, Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed the UK government had "disavowed the British subjects who have fallen victim to British propaganda and went to Ukraine as mercenaries to kill people there".
In a reference to Mr Aslin, Ms Zakharova said: "Boris Johnson has urged the Russian government to treat the Briton detained in Mariupol while fighting on the side of the Ukrainian government forces ‘humanely and compassionately’."
She continued: "Here is what we have to say in this respect. Don’t pretend to be worried.
"You are utterly unconcerned about the fate of Britons in trouble.
"They didn’t drink champagne with you at Downing Street, and so they can wait for your protection till kingdom come."
The statement went on to claim that Russia was taking care of British captives, who also include 48-year-old Shaun Pinner.
Listen to the latest updates on Russian's Ukraine invasion on ITV News podcast, What you Need to Know:
Urging the UK to cease the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry statement said of British prisoners: “They are given food and drink, as well as any other assistance they may need, just as the other foreigners who have surrendered or have been detained.”
Mr Aslin, 28, was taken prisoner while serving with the Ukrainian marines in Mariupol, and a video of him being warned that “mercenaries” faced the death penalty led to calls for the footage to be removed by YouTube.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, relatives of Mr Aslin denounced claims he was a "volunteer, a mercenary, or a spy" as propaganda issued by the Kremlin.
They said: "In 2018 Aiden moved to Ukraine where he met his girlfriend and eventually settled down in Mykolaiv.
"Aiden decided to join the Ukrainian marines and has served in his unit for nearly four years.
"He is not, contrary to the Kremlin’s propaganda, a volunteer, a mercenary, or a spy."
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s PM programme on Wednesday, the Conservative MP for Newark Robert Jenrick said a prisoner swap was the most likely route to get Mr Aslin to safety.
The MP had earlier told the Commons the video showed his constituent “handcuffed, physically injured and being interviewed under duress for propaganda purposes”.
Mr Johnson responded to Mr Jenrick’s comments by telling MPs: “I understand that he had been serving in the Ukrainian forces for some time and his situation was very different from that (of) a mercenary.
“I hope that he is treated with care and compassion.
“I thoroughly echo the sentiments my right honourable friend has expressed about those who broadcast propaganda messages.”