A man who says he used to be a British soldier has been captured in the Kursk region of Russia after travelling to fight for Ukraine.
Footage has circulated online of James Scott Rhys Anderson being asked questions by his Russian captors about his previous experience and motivations for joining.
Anderson – or possibly Andersen – claimed he served in the British army from 2019 to 2023 as a signaller in the Royal Signals.
When asked about why he had decided to travel and fight he said: “Okay – so when I left, got fired from my job, I applied on the International Legion [of Ukraine] webpage.
“I had just lost everything. I just lost my job.”
Appearing on his knees with his hands bound he adds: “My dad was away in prison. I saw it on the TV. It’s a stupid idea. I flew to Krakow, Poland, from London Luton.
“Bus from there to Medyka in Poland, on the Ukraine border [and then to Ukraine].”
Anderson told his captors how he had undergone one year of basic training, insinuating that he completed his initial training at the Army Foundation College Harrogate where 16- and 17-year-olds undergo a longer period of training than adults in other establishments.
He says that he then served in 252 Squadron, 22 Signals Regiment which ispart of 1 Signals Brigade.
The army says that 252 Squadron “provides direct close support in the delivery of Allied Rapid Response Corps, Information Communication Services for its permanent HQ in Gloucestershire.”
Additionally, the Squadron provides a Falcon Anchor Point responsible for service management and strategic reach back communications for HQ ARRC and wider defence.” His role could mean that he possess knowledge that would be of interest to Russian intelligence.
Russian military source told the state-controlled TASS news agency: “A mercenary from Britain has been taken prisoner in the Kursk region.”
A Russian report said: “Overall, the footage will be useful and will be able to tell a lot of interesting things about communications and its structure in the British army.”
Ukraine currently occupies land in the Kursk region, the first time that Russian territory has fallen into enemy hands since the Second World War.
The capture in August shocked many military experts but Ukraine have been slowly ceding parts of it in the last two months as Russia steps up their attempts to recapture it.
