British soldier Shaun Pinner could face death penalty

Shaun Pinner, 48, from Watford and Bedfordshire, has been held captive by Russian forces for weeks along with Aiden Aslin from Nottinghamshire.

The British men were taken prisoner in Mariupol while defending Ukraine, and have since been paraded on Russian state TV in which they admitted the capture.

New footage has appeared with prosecutor Andrei Spivak, from the Donetsk People’s Republic, charging the two with a “number of crimes against civilians”.

These charges included “being on the territory of sovereign state” and attempting to hold “power on the territory”.

Shaun Pinner in a previous video

The prosecutor said Mr Pinner was “conducting terrorist acts” and claimed he attacked settlements and civilians as well as military personnel.

Mr Spivak said: “The maximum punishment for these crimes is the death penalty.”

When hearing the charges listed out to him, Mr Pinner said he understood what he was accused of but he was not heard giving a plea.

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In the videos released, it is unclear whether the two were made aware they could possibly face the death penalty.

The families of both Mr Pinner an Mr Aslin have previously announced that the men are members of the Ukrainian military and they signed up in 2018.

Shaun Pinner in a video pleading to Boris Johnson for help

The former waste manager from Watford is said to have moved to Ukraine with his wife before joining the nation’s armed forces.

According to his family, his three-year contract was due to end later this year and he was planning to enter a humanitarian role within Ukraine.

Last month, Russian Federation ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova said: “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.”

She also 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’.

“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.”

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