Aiden Ashlin, a former Coldstream guard from Newark to Nottingham, was one of the last Ukrainian soldiers to surrender to the besieged city of Mariupol. The 28-year-old joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a Marine in 2018. For more than 50 days, he fought to defend his adopted homeland, before a lack of supplies meant his unit was forced to surrender. “We had a video exchange with Eden shortly before the delivery to express our love and support,” Shannon Tinegate’s sister told Sky News. Russia “digs graves in Mariupol” – live updates for Ukraine Image: Mariupol has been under a barrage of attacks since the war began “And in them Eden had no signs of bodily injury.” In a video shot less than 24 hours later and broadcast on Russian state television, the former caregiver appears to have cuts and bruises on his face as he answers questions from a Russian interviewer. “At least we know he’s alive,” says Shannon. “But all we can go on is his physical appearance. So this piece is worrying.” “He looks exhausted and tired,” he adds. “But he’s been fighting for over 50 days, so who wouldn’t do it?” “We are proud of him, but we are worried … The worst thing is not to know.” Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:07 “I saw my house being destroyed on social media” Read more: The sinking of Russia’s flagship in the Black Sea is a great shame for Vladimir Putin In the video, Mr. Aslin’s investigators seem to be trying to blame him for the crimes Russia allegedly committed in the port city. His family says he holds the fact that he is a recruited Marine and is from 2018, and therefore should be treated as a prisoner of war under the Geneva Convention. However, some Russian media sources claim that he is a mercenary and not a soldier. Shannon says: “Aiden has dual citizenship. His fiancée is Ukrainian and his life is there. “He is a proud Ukrainian citizen, so calling him a mercenary is bad. We know the truth. We know what he is and what his goals are. “He is a compassionate and loving person who believes in freedom and peace. “We all love him and do what we can. We just hope he stays strong and positive.” Before the war broke out, Mr Aslin told Sky News that people thought he was crazy to sign a war and argued that he should not even be Ukrainian. “This is a real argument on their part, but I’m here, my fiancée is Ukrainian, I have a house in Ukraine, I’re starting a family,” he said at the time. “There will always be this person who says I should not be here, but at the end of the day, if I’m not here, as if my government is not here, that’s the best thing I can do doing what the government is doing. I can not “. Shannon says her brother, who returned from the fighting as a volunteer in Syria in 2016, is “courageous and brave, but also with a strong will”. Follow the Daily Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker She said her message to Eden was simple: “Hold on, Eden. Your family cares about you and supports you. “We love you and we’re proud of you, no matter what is said, and the whole of Newark and Nottingham are behind you.” Mr Ashlin’s family has contacted the State Department for help in securing his release. Their other hope is that it could become part of an exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia. Sky News understands that the Foreign Office is aware of the detention of a British citizen and has contacted his family. Whatever the path, Mr. Aslin’s family simply wants to be able to return to the reception of the hero they believe he deserves.
