Russia is seeking to link a captured British fight to a 'mass grave' allegedly containing 280 civilian corpses near Bucha in Ukraine.
A state-run news agency claimed to show a “diary” belonging to Brit fighter Andrew Hill, 35, who surrendered to Vladimir Putin ’s forces.
The father-of-four from Plymouth faces a possible death penalty and is one of three Britons currently on trial in the unrecognised Donetsk People’s Republic.
And all three Brits have been warned they could be executed for “monstrous crimes”, even though their trial has barely begun.
Mr Hill did not appear in the dock alongside Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48, when they were shown on TV in the court cage on Tuesday.
A RIA Novosti report today said: “The coordinates of a burial place, presumably civilians, were found in the diary of British mercenary Andrew Hill, who was taken prisoner by the Russian military during an operation in Ukraine.”
However, there was no evidence given that the diary belonged to Hill. The diary supposedly reads: "East or south. 280 civ mass grave.”
Coordinates are given on the previous page in different ink and it is unclear the two entries are connected.
Another comment reads: “No stable income - savings running thin.”
RIA Novosti suggest the coordinates are “between the cities of Irpin and Bucha, possibly Vokzalnaya Street in Irpin”.
There are fears that the three will be subjected to rebel justice in the Donetsk People’s Republic, which unlike Russia and Ukraine appears ready to sentence captives to death.
Last month Mr Hill was forced to read out a humiliating "confession" to being involved in "war crimes" in a sickening video released by Russian forces.
Russian TV anchorwoman Olga Skabeyeva claimed that comments by UK deputy prime minister Dominic Raab indicate Britain is recognising the puppet regime in the DPR.
“Britain wants to appeal the possible death sentence that two Britons face in the DPR [Donetsk People’s Republic],” she said.
“Dominic Raab has made a request.
“We come to the conclusion that the UK has recognised the DPR, and that’s good.”
In fact Raab had said on LBC: "In relation to that case, I don't know all the details, but of course we would expect the laws of armed conflict to be respected, and we will make sure that we will make all the representations.”
He added: "I know the Foreign Office will be looking at making sure all those representations are made.
