A Russian court confirmed today that it has remanded in custody a British man accused of fighting for the Ukrainian army in Russia's Kursk region, where Kyiv launched an offensive in August.
A court in the Kursk region examined the case in secret on Monday and decided to detain James Anderson, who "illegally crossed" the Russian border to take part "in hostilities" in the area, according to a statement from its press service.
"A preventive measure of pre-trial detention was chosen" because of the "danger" posed by Anderson, the court said.
In early August, Ukraine launched a surprise offensive in Russia's Kursk region, which borders its territory. The operation, the largest offensive on Russian territory since the end of World War II, caught Moscow's forces by surprise in a weakly defended region and was a humiliating setback for the Kremlin.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy promised on Monday to give his “full support” to the citizen, saying he had been informed “in the last few days” of his arrest.
A video posted online by pro-Kremlin groups showed a captured foreign fighter with his hands tied and identifying himself as James Anderson. The detainee said he had joined the Ukrainian forces after being discharged from the British army. He was reportedly captured in the Kursk region of Russia.
The video could not be independently verified, according to the AFP news agency.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, James Anderson’s father expressed shock upon seeing the video.
“I knew straight away it was my son. He looked scared and worried,” said Scott Anderson.
James Anderson’s father said the family had tried unsuccessfully to dissuade his 22-year-old son from traveling to Ukraine.
“He thought he was doing the right thing,” said Scott Anderson.
The British government warns that citizens who go to fight in Ukraine could be "prosecuted" by the courts upon their return to the United Kingdom.
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