Family of British prisoner of war caught fighting in Ukraine urges Boris Johnson to help his release

Aiden Aslin, originally from Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, was fighting with Ukrainians in Mariupol when he was captured by Russians and now his family want the Prime Minister’s help

The family of a Briton captured by the Russians while defending Mariupol with Ukrainian forces have asked Boris Johnson to help free him.

Aiden Aslin, originally from Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, was spurred to travel to Ukraine and fight to repel the Russians after they invaded the neighboring country on February 24.

He was part of a valiant attempt to defend Mariupol, which was reduced to rubble by Russian shelling because Vladimir Putin considers it strategically important.

Mr Aslin was fighting in Mariupol, Ukraine, when he was captured earlier this month and fellow countryman Shaun Pinner was also captured during the siege.

Mr Aslin’s family hopes a prisoner swap can be held to free him with his mother Angela and brother Nathan and are appealing to the Prime Minister for his release.

Last week Conservative MP for Newark Robert Jenrick said a prisoner swap was the most likely way to get Mr Aslin to safety, while Mr Johnson said he hoped Mr Aslin would be “treated with care and compassion” by his captors.

Nathan said he called his brother after the comments and hoped there would be an exchange soon.

He told TalkTv: “I would hope that there will be a prisoner swap at some point. But that’s out of my hands. It takes place between Ukraine and Russia.”

Nathan outlined his phone conversation with his brother, adding: “It was obvious he was with the Russians who were holding him and he asked me to contact Boris to do this prison swap. And keep asking for this swap.”

When asked what he would say to the Prime Minister, Nathan said: “Act now when you have time to act at gunpoint, whether they show it on camera or not. And it is a moral obligation to do something about it.”

Angela added: “I would like to hope that Boris will help. And talk to the Ukrainian government (and) the embassy. Something can be cleared up so these two guys can get home.”

Russian Federation Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously said the British prisoners would be given “food and drink and any other assistance they may need” during their detention.