New Delhi: Two British fighters captured by Russian forces in war-torn Ukraine appeared on Russian state TV on Monday and appealed to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to be exchnaged for a pro-Russian politician held by Ukrainian authorities, Reuters reported.
The British fighters have been identified as Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin. They have asked UK PM Johnson to help bring them home in exchange for Ukraine releasing pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk.
"We look to exchange myself and Aiden Aslin for Medvedchuk. Obviously, I would really appreciate your help in this matter," Pinner said in his appeal to Johnson.
The footage was broadcast on the Rossiya 24 state TV channel.
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Both Pinner and Aslin fought on the Ukrainian side in Mariupol, which is now almost entirely under Russian control. According to Sky News, Pinner said he was fighting in the port city for the past five to six weeks.
Aiden Aslin, who is from Newark in Nottingham, was one of the last soldiers to surrender in Mariupol on April 15.
Viktor Medvedchuk was placed under house arrest in May 2021 by Ukrainian authorities and charged with high treason and later with aiding terrorism. However, Ukraine said Medvedchuk had escaped from house arrest days after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Reuters reported.
Last week, Medvedchuk's wife, Oksana, made an appeal for her husband to be swapped for the two British nationals.
"I understand the situation. I'd like to appeal to the government to send me back home, I'd like to see my wife again," Pinner said.
Aslin, who looked nervous during the broadcast, said, "I think that Boris needs to listen to what Oksana (Medvedchuk's wife) has said. If Boris Johnson really does care about British citizens like he says he does then he will help."
Ukrainian security services on Monday published a video showing Viktor Medvedchuk calling to be exchanged for Ukrainian forces fighting in the besieged port city of Mariupol, AFP reported.
"I want to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to exchange me for Ukrainian defenders and residents of Mariupol," he said in the video.
Last week, Russia announced a ban on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and many other top UK officials from entering the country owing to sanctions imposed by London for the nation's military action in Ukraine.