A British national, 30-year-old Hayden Davies, has been sentenced to 13 years in a Russian maximum-security prison after being convicted of fighting for the Ukrainian army. Russian prosecutors accused Davies of being a “paid mercenary” operating in the eastern Donetsk region, an area currently experiencing intense conflict. The verdict was delivered by a court in Russian-controlled Donetsk, one of the Ukrainian territories Moscow has claimed.

Davies reportedly arrived in Ukraine in August of the previous year and subsequently signed a contract with the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine. Following military training, he is alleged to have engaged in combat against Russian forces in Donetsk. He was apprehended by Russian troops in the winter, reportedly in possession of a US-made assault rifle and ammunition.

State prosecutors released a video showing Davies, with a shaven head and wearing a dark coat, speaking from behind bars. In the footage, he stated he traveled to Ukraine to join the International Legion and confirmed he received a monthly payment of $400-$500. When questioned about his plea, Davies appeared to respond affirmatively, nodding when asked if he pleaded guilty to the charges.

The British Foreign Office has not yet commented on the specifics of Davies’ case. However, in February, London stated that Davies was not a mercenary but a Prisoner of War, asserting his entitlement to protections under the Geneva Conventions. The UK government has previously condemned Russia’s alleged exploitation of prisoners of war for political and propaganda purposes.

Davies, originally from Southampton, was reported missing in January. He stated in the video that he was discharged from the British Army in 2023 due to marijuana use and subsequently faced difficulties finding employment. He indicated that his decision to fight in Ukraine stemmed from his departure from the British Army, expressing criticism of Ukrainian commanders and suggesting they were indifferent to the welfare of their foreign fighters.

Davies also claimed to have received inadequate training and that the International Legion lacked heavy weaponry for drills. He described spending two months alone in a bunker on the battlefield before being allegedly rescued by a Russian soldier. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been contacted for further comment regarding the situation.

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Keywords: Hayden Davies, British man jailed Russia, Ukraine war, International Legion, mercenary conviction, Donetsk fighting, Prisoner of War, Russian prison sentence