The brother of a Nottinghamshire man who is being held as a prisoner of war by Russia says his eventual release "could all take, days, weeks, months". Aiden Aslin was captured while fighting in the Ukrainian Marines as is being used as a bargaining chip by Vladimir Putin's regime for the release of a pro-Russian politician being held in Ukraine.
Nathan Wood, a 25-year-old social care worker and brother to Mr Aslin, says he hopes they are treating him "like a prince". Concerns had been raised in Parliament over his treatment after a video, published on and then removed by YouTube, showed him speaking under duress.
Mr Aslin moved to Ukraine in 2018 and later joined the armed forces. He was fighting with the Ukrainian Marines at the time of capture.
Read more: Aiden Aslin interviewed under duress by man from Nottingham
In return for his release Russia is demanding pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk is also released, The Mirror reports. He is being held in Ukraine.
“We have to be patient but we feel more confident now that Aiden will be released," Mr Wood says. “The Prime Minister is aware Aiden has been taken prisoner of war. It gives us a bit of hope but it is now a waiting game.
“There needs to be a positive outcome and now the Russians are talking about him potentially being freed in a prisoner swap, he is hopefully being with humanity.
“They have made their demands clear. Hopefully they are treating him like a prince, they don’t want to show him with scratches and bruises because it could harm their chances.
“This could all takes, days, weeks, months but the Ukrainian and Russian governments appear to be talking and now we need Britain to offer some support.”
Newark MP Robert Jenrick raised Mr Aslin's case in the Commons and says the video, filmed by Graham Phillips, a man believed to be from Nottingham who has previously worked for the Kremlin-backed television channel RT, may amount to a war crime and breach the Geneva convention. Prime Minister Boris Johnson echoed demands the video should be removed from YouTube.
Ang Wood, the mum of Aiden Aslin, also spoke exclusively to Nottinghamshire Live and described him as a "charismatic individual, very loveable, who was a man of the world and loved travelling".
Mr Aslin was due to marry until the invasion of Ukraine cut short his plans.
