A British soldier who has been detained by pro-Vladimir Putin forces has been seen making videos on a YouTube channel praising his captors in what appears to be Russian propaganda.
Aiden Aslin, 28, has emerged as a YouTuber, praising the “amazing” food he receives in detention, and offering to answer questions from around the world.
He along with two other UK fighters are being held by authorities in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic [DPR] - a region that is not internationally recognised - after they surrendered in Ukraine.
Aiden has not been named as one of the fighters who are potentially facing the death penalty, but the other two have.
It is strongly suspected that Aiden is being used for propaganda purposes.
Fellow UK captives Shaun Pinner, 48, and Andrew Hill, 35, have both been branded “neo-Nazis” and warned that they face execution if convicted in a suspected upcoming show trial in the statelet, which is not recognised internationally.
Senior official Elena Shishkina referred to Pinner, Hill and Moroccan captive Saadun Brahim when she said today that they would not be exchanged.
Shishkina, who chairs the DPR parliament’s committee on criminal and administrative legislation said: "They did not act here as servicemen, who comply with international conventions. They acted as terrorists, like neo-Nazis, so any exchange is ruled out."
Aiden's name was not mentioned.
The death penalty is suspended in Russia and abolished in Ukraine.
In the YouTube video, Aiden appears relaxed and boasts that he has put on weight because of the “amazing” food he is receiving.
The Mirror is not publishing the video.
One was headlined “Greetings from Custody” and he tells viewers he is allowed to call home.
He said: The situation is that Britain is aware of...my existence. They know what's happening.
“I've been allowed to make phone calls to them, speak to my family.
“As far as I'm aware [the] British government - they have steps in place to secure my release, however, I do not know what the steps are and hopefully in the future, I will learn more on what the steps are actually going to be, like a prisoner exchange.”
In one broadcast, he tells watchers: "So my name is Aiden Aslin. If you do not remember who I am, I am a British citizen, was born in Nottingham, 1994.”
He added: "Five weeks ago I surrendered to the [Donetsk People’s Republic] forces in the city of Mariupol.
“If you want to ask questions about how the reality is of the military service in the Ukrainian military as a foreigner…you can find my e-mail address and feel free to send messages to ask me anything about …life as a private in the Ukrainian military.”
He promises to “tell you anything you want to know”.
Then he gives a culinary guide to life in his DPR jail.
He said: "Just so people understand my daily diet…for breakfast, I had kasha [porridge] with milk and then we had a Russian drink ...
“It's hot, it’s nice [kissel]. And we get bread. And for lunch, we had pavlok, like a different kasha [porridge] with meat in it, which is amazing.
“And then for dinner, we had mashed potato with... fish.
“So it's good in my book, as you can see I've got a bit of…fat coming back to me now I’m eating well.
“So I'm not as skinny as I used to be in my first video after two months of not eating in Mariupol.
“So obviously a good sign that I’m eating well.”
