Russian authorities announced Monday that a British man captured fighting alongside Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region faces charges of terrorism and mercenary activities.
James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, was apprehended in November while reportedly fighting for Ukraine’s International Legion. He remains in Russian custody.
The Investigative Committee of Russia, tasked with probing major crimes, said Anderson was “directly involved in an armed conflict on Russian territory for material gain.” Officials allege he illegally crossed the border into Russia while armed and carried out “criminal acts against civilians,” causing property damage and disrupting local authorities’ operations.
Anderson has been charged with “committing a terrorist act” as part of an organized group and working as a mercenary in an armed conflict. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for the first charge and an additional 15 years for the second.
Russian officials released videos in November showing Anderson in custody, his head shaved and hands tied, wearing a prison uniform. In one video published on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, Anderson claimed he joined Ukraine’s International Legion after being dismissed from the British army. He reportedly earned $400 monthly and $60 daily while on combat missions.
Anderson’s case underscores Moscow’s classification of foreign fighters in Ukraine as “mercenaries,” a designation that allows prosecution under Russian criminal law rather than as prisoners of war protected by the Geneva Conventions.
British Foreign Minister David Lammy previously stated that the U.K. government would provide Anderson with “all the support that we can.”
The case mirrors similar instances from 2022 when a court in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine sentenced two British fighters to death for supporting Ukraine. They were later released in a prisoner exchange.
The terrorism charge against Anderson alleges his actions caused “significant property damage” and were part of an organized effort to destabilize the region. The mercenary accusation emphasizes his paid involvement in armed conflict on Russian territory.
The charges follow a broader trend of Russia prosecuting foreign fighters captured in the ongoing conflict, highlighting the legal and political complexities of international involvement in the war in Ukraine.
themoscowtimes.com
