London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, a British man has been captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine’s Kursk region. The UK government is providing support to his family.
The British government has pledged full support for a former British soldier captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine.
Videos released on Russian Telegram channels feature a man identified as James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22. He is dressed in military uniform and has his hands tied. He spoke in English and revealed he served as a signalman in the British Army between 2019 and 2023.
Russian news agencies have confirmed that Russian forces have captured a British m.
Speaking during G7 talks in Italy, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy addressed the detention of a British national, stating, “I have been updated about that development in the last couple of days. Of course, we will do all that we can to offer this UK national all the support we can.” A spokesperson for the Foreign Office stated, “We are supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention.”
According to reports, Anderson travelled to Ukraine eight months ago to volunteer with the Ukrainian Army’s International Legion. How he was captured and the timing of the video remains unknown. The International Legion has yet to respond to requests for comment.
Russian bloggers have claimed that Anderson was detained near the village of Plekhovo in the Kursk region inside Russia. “A mercenary from Great Britain, who called himself James Scott Rhys Anderson, was captured. He is now giving evidence,” a Russian security source told the state-funded news agency RIA.
Scott Anderson, Mr. Anderson’s father, said he had urged his son not to go to Ukraine.
His father told the Daily Mail, “He wanted to go out there because he thought he was doing what was right.”
“I’m hoping he’ll be used as a bargaining chip, but my son told me they torture their prisoners and I’m so frightened he’ll be tortured.”
Mr Scott also told the media that he received the video from his son’s commander, which left him in complete shock and tears. He immediately recognized his son, and he looked scared, frightened and worried.
Shaun Pinner, a former British soldier who served with the Ukrainian army and was detained while fighting in 2022, told The Guardian that the next 10 days would be crucial for Anderson.
He stated, “It’s going to be very difficult but it will be down to his fortitude and resilience. At the end of the day he is a Ukrainian soldier, not a mercenary. That’s the bottom line. When I was captured the Russians would try to bring Britain into it at every turn as part of their false narrative that there are British soldiers on the ground here.”
Ukraine’s International Legion, formed at the start of the full-scale war, is largely composed of foreign volunteers. Foreign fighters are also involved in different units of the Ukrainian army. Initially, Ukrainian authorities stated that over 20,000 individuals from 52 countries had joined the fight against Russia, but these figures are now classified.
On 6 August, Ukraine launched a surprise attack into Kursk, advancing as far as 18 miles (29 km) and seizing control of over 1,000 square kilometres of Russian territory.
Russia has deployed approximately 50,000 troops in the region and is actively reclaiming territory amid heavy battles.