Downing Street has said the Foreign Office is “supporting the family of a British man being held in detention” by Russian forces after fighting for Ukraine.
In a widely circulated video posted on Sunday, the man says his name is James Scott Rhys Anderson, aged 22.
He says he is a former British Army soldier who signed up to fight for Ukraine’s International Legion.
The foreign secretary, David Lammy, was also asked a short while ago about the man’s plight, and replied: “I have been updated about that development in the last couple of days and of course we will do all we can to offer this UK national all the support we can.”
How can government help?
The PM’s spokesperson was asked what the government’s position is on British nationals fighting for Ukraine, and he slightly sidestepped the question, noting they have a “limited ability to support fighters who are detained or mistreated”.
Asked for confirmation that the man is a mercenary and not connected to the British government in any way, the spokesperson could not comment.
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