Two Britons and a Moroccan captured by Russian forces in Ukraine have been found guilty and sentenced to death in an un-recognised court in Donetsk, the territory held by pro-Russian rebels.
They are all former fighters in the Ukrainian military who were captured in Mariupol by Russian forces.
Aiden Aslin
One of the British men is Aiden Aslin, 28, whose story the BBC has been following in the past.
Aslin is from Newark in Nottinghamshire, and his family said he moved to Mykolaiv in Ukraine in 2018. He became a marine with the Ukrainian military in 2018, was engaged to marry a Ukrainian, and had made the country his home.
The former care worker had also previously fought with Kurdish armed units in Syria against so-called Islamic State.
Since his capture, he has appeared in photos and video footage on Russian television in which he looked bruised and swollen as he was questioned.
Shaun Pinner
The other British man, Shaun Pinner, is 48-years-old and originally from Bedfordshire. His family said he was a “well-respected” soldier in the British Army before he moved to Ukraine four years ago to use his previous experience and training with the Ukrainian military.
“Shaun enjoyed the Ukrainian way of life and considered Ukraine as his adopted country over the last four years. During this time, he met his Ukrainian wife who is very focussed on the humanitarian needs of the country,” they said.
Pinner’s three-year contract was due to expire at the end of the year and he was planning to enter a humanitarian role in the country, according to his family.
“Shaun is a funny, much-loved, well-intentioned husband, son, father, brother and friend to many,” they said.
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