Reports on Monday indicated that Russian forces apprehended a former British Army soldier, 22-year-old James Scott Rhys Anderson, while he was fighting alongside Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region.
A video surfaced showing the prisoner of war, hands restrained, identifying himself.
Russia’s Tass news agency confirmed the capture of a British mercenary in the Kursk area.
In the recorded statement, Anderson confirmed his service in the British Army’s 22 Signal Regiment (2019-2023), detailing his role and unit.
He expressed regret over his involvement, citing significant personal losses as his motivation.
He lost his job after leaving the military and subsequently applied for a position online.
“I had just lost everything. I just lost my job. My dad was away in prison. I see it on the TV,” Anderson said, expressing remorse for his decision.
The International Legion for Defense of Ukraine, established following Russia’s February 2022 invasion at President Zelenskyy’s request, is a Ukrainian ground forces unit primarily composed of foreign volunteers, according to the Associated Press.
Anderson reportedly served as an instructor and was deployed to the Kursk region against his will, his commander confiscating his belongings and issuing the order.
In the video, Anderson stated his unwillingness to be there.
While the AP couldn’t independently verify the report, if accurate, it would represent a notable instance of a Western national’s capture on Russian soil.
The U.K. Embassy in Moscow confirmed providing support to Anderson’s family, although specifics remained undisclosed.
Anderson’s father, Scott Anderson, informed the Daily Mail that his son’s Ukrainian commander had confirmed his capture.
The father added that his son had served in the British military, worked in police custody, and subsequently joined the Ukrainian fight. He expressed concern for his son’s safety, fearing potential torture.
Anderson recounted his journey to Ukraine, detailing his flight from London Luton to Krakow, Poland, followed by a bus trip to the Ukrainian border.
This capture comes amidst reports, as published by the Financial Times, of Russia recruiting Yemeni men to fight in Ukraine through deceptive practices coordinated with the Houthi network.
A senior Ukrainian defense official stated that Moscow is actively seeking foreign mercenaries, both from allies and impoverished countries.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense corroborated this, highlighting Russia’s recent escalation by deploying North Korean fighters and ballistic missiles in Ukraine.
Digital’s Caitlin McFall and Nana Sajaia, as well as