British soldier captured while fighting for Ukraine in Kursk region
- James Scott Rhys Anderson was taken into custody by Russian forces in the Kursk region for participating in armed hostilities.
- He served in the British Army before joining the International Legion of Ukraine after losing his job.
- His capture raises concerns regarding the treatment of prisoners and the involvement of foreign nationals in the ongoing conflict.
In Russia's Kursk region, James Scott Rhys Anderson, a 22-year-old British national, was captured while fighting alongside Ukrainian troops. Anderson, a former soldier in the British Army from Banbury, Oxfordshire, had served from 2019 to 2023 and subsequently joined the International Legion for Defense of Ukraine after losing his job. A Russian court confirmed custody of Anderson, alleging participation in hostilities in the territory. In a video that circulated online, he expressed regret for joining the fight and mentioned that his Ukrainian commander took his personal belongings before being ordered to the frontlines. The U.K. Embassy in Moscow is providing support to his family amid concerns for his safety due to reports of harsh treatment of prisoners. Anderson's case highlights the ongoing conflict and its global implications as foreign nationals participate in the war.