Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register April 18 (Reuters) – Two British fighters arrested in Ukraine by Russian forces appeared on Russian state television on Monday and demanded an exchange with a pro-Russian politician detained by Ukrainian authorities. It was not clear how freely the two men – Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin – could speak. They both spoke separately at the urging of an unknown man. The video was broadcast by state television channel Rossiya 24. The two men asked British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to help bring them home in exchange for the release of pro-Russian Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvetsuk, who appeared in a video released around the same time on Monday by the SBU intelligence service. Ukraine to ask to be exchanged too. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Medvedchuk, in his appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy, asked to exchange with the defenders of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and any civilians who are allowed to leave. Both Piner and Aslin fought on the Ukrainian side in Mariupol, which is now almost entirely under Russian control. The unidentified man, who appeared on Russian state television, was seen showing the two Britons a video on Medvedchuk’s wife Oksana’s mobile phone, calling at the weekend for an exchange between her husband and the two British nationals. Three days after Russia transferred its forces to Ukraine on February 24, Ukraine said Medvedchuk had escaped from house arrest. He was placed under house arrest in May 2021 and charged with high treason and later aiding and abetting terrorism. The pro-Russian figure, who says Putin is his daughter’s godfather, has denied any wrongdoing. “I understand the situation,” said Piner, who looked tired and nervous after watching the video. “I would like to appeal to the government to send me back home, I would like to see my wife again,” he said. Piner directly appealed to Johnson on his behalf and on behalf of Aslin. “We are trying to exchange me and Aiden Aslin with Mr Medvedchuk. I would obviously appreciate your help in this matter,” he said, adding that he spoke a little Russian and was well received. The unidentified man then appeared to be talking 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 should listen to what Oksana (Medvetsuk’s wife) said,” said Aslin, who also looked nervous. “If Boris Johnson really cares about British people as he says, then he will help.” Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Reuters reporters Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
