Footage showed Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin calling on the British prime minister to help them release in exchange for Ukraine releasing pro-Kremlin politician Viktor Medvedchuk. It was not clear how freely the two men could speak in the video, which aired on state television channel Rossiya 24 on Monday. At the same time as Russia broadcast footage of the two British men, Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service released a video of Medvedchuk nicknamed the “dark prince” of Ukrainian politics, demanding that he be exchanged. In his appeal to the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, Vladimir Putin and Volodymr Zelenskiy, Medvedchuk called for an exchange with the defenders of the besieged city of Mariupol – where Pinner and Aslin were before their arrest – and for any civilians to be allowed to flee. . The video marks a serious escalation of the propaganda war between Russia and Ukraine and is the first time a public exchange of prisoners has been proposed between the two countries. The central involvement of two British fighters will put pressure on Johnson to intervene. Contact the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) for feedback. The FCDO has been providing support to men’s families in recent days, but has limited capacity to gather information or provide consular assistance on the ground in Ukraine. Piner, 48, seemed exhausted in the latest heavily edited footage released on Russian television. In a hushed voice he said to the camera: “Mr. Boris Johnson. Obviously I’m Shaun Pinner. “A lot has happened in the last five or six weeks that I do not fully know. I obviously understand that Mr Medvedchuk has been taken into custody and we are looking to exchange me and Aiden Aslin for Mr Medvedchuk. “Obviously I would greatly appreciate your help in this matter and in advancing this agenda. I was treated well. I fully understand the situation I am in. We fed, we watered, and that’s all I can really say, but I beg on behalf of myself and Aiden Aslin for help in return for Mr Medvedchuk. The unnamed interviewer then appeared to speak separately to Aslin, who was sitting in a chair wearing a T-shirt bearing the emblem of Ukraine’s far-right Azov Battalion. “I think Boris needs to hear what Oxana has to say [Medvedchuk’s wife] said “, said Aslin, who also looked nervous. “If Boris Johnson really cares about British people as he says, then he will help.” Piner and Aslin, 28, look tired and bruised since they were arrested while defending the city of Mariupol last week. Medvedchuk is a key ally of Putin. He was placed under house arrest last year on charges of treason and terrorist financing, which he denies. He escaped a few days after the start of the Russian invasion in February, but was later arrested by Ukraine. In a video posted on Facebook by Ukraine’s SBU security service, Medvedchuk said he “appealed to the Ukrainian side to exchange me with the defenders of Mariupol and its citizens who are there today do not have the opportunity to leave safely through humanitarian corridor “. Piner, a former soldier in the Royal English Constitution, moved to Ukraine four years ago and considers it his adopted country, his family said in a statement on Monday. Piner was said to have been a respected soldier in the British Army for many years and was described as “funny, dear, with good intentions”. They added: “In 2018, Shaun decided to relocate to Ukraine to use his previous experience and training in the Ukrainian army. “Shaun has enjoyed the Ukrainian way of life and has considered Ukraine his adopted country for the past four years. During this period, he met his Ukrainian wife, who is very focused on the humanitarian needs of the country. He joined the Ukrainian Marines as a proud member of his unit. “ The statement added: “We would like to make it clear that he is not a volunteer or a mercenary, but is serving in the Ukrainian army in accordance with Ukrainian law. “Our family is currently working with the Foreign Ministry with the family of Aiden Aslin, who is also being held by the Russian military to ensure that their rights as prisoners of war are respected under the Geneva Convention.” The Pinner family said they hoped for a speedy solution that would allow the arrested men to return to their families. “Our hearts go out to all those involved in this horrific conflict.”
