A British man has reportedly been captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine.
In a video widely shared online, a man in military attire identifies himself as 22-year-old James Scott Rhys Anderson and states he previously served in the British Army.
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Russian state news agency Tass, citing a military source, reported that Anderson, referred to as a “UK mercenary,” was captured in the Kursk region of Russia.
Parts of this area have been under Ukrainian control since a surprise offensive in August.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is “supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention.”
The video, initially posted on the Telegram messaging platform, shows Anderson responding to questions from someone off-camera.
He claims he served as a private in the British Army from 2019 to 2023 and later joined Ukraine’s International Legion—a unit of foreign volunteers—after losing his job and being moved by media coverage of the war.
Anderson recounts traveling to Krakow, Poland, from Luton, UK, before making his way by bus to the Ukrainian border.
Ukraine launched its surprise attack on the Kursk region on August 6, advancing up to 18 miles (29 kilometres) and seizing control of around 1,000 square kilometres of territory.
However, Russia has since deployed approximately 50,000 troops to the region and is retaking areas through intense combat.
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