Father of ‘former British soldier’ captured in Russia fears son will be tortured

The begetter of erstwhile British worker James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, has expressed his “complete shock” to perceive his lad had been captured.

Scott Anderson, 41, told the Daily Mail: “I’m hoping he’ll beryllium utilized arsenic a bargaining spot but my lad told maine they torture their prisoners and I’m truthful frightened he’ll beryllium tortured.

“We spoke connected WhatsApp astir each time until helium went connected his astir caller operation. He was acting arsenic a signalman. James past came location lone a period and a fractional ago.

“He said his Ukrainian commandant had made a committedness that he’d interaction maine if helium was ever killed oregon captured.”

He past elaborate however helium felt erstwhile helium received the call: “When helium called maine and sent the video I was successful implicit daze and successful tears. I could spot consecutive distant it was him.

“He looks frightened, frightened and worried.”

Mr Anderson said helium and different household members had tried to person his lad not to combat for Ukraine earlier helium enlisted astir 8 months ago.

“I didn’t privation him to go. I did effort to transportation him not to spell – my full household tried to transportation him,” helium told the Daily Mail.

“He wanted to spell retired determination due to the fact that helium thought helium was doing what was right. He was dormant against what was happening to the Ukrainian people.”

Mr Anderson besides confirmed helium has been contacted by Foreign Office officials concerning the matter.

Mr Anderson’s comments travel arsenic a wide circulated video made the rounds connected Sunday, archetypal posted connected Telegram.

In the clip, a antheral identifies himself arsenic James Scott Rhys Anderson.

He adds successful the footage that helium is aged 22 and a erstwhile British Army soldier.

He is dressed successful combat fatigues and speaks with an English accent portion appearing to person his hands tied.

He said to the camera: “I was successful the British Army before, from 2019 to 2023, 22 Signal Regiment. Just a private. I was a signalman. One Signal Brigade, 22 Signal Regiment, 252 Squadron.”

He said helium signed up to combat for Ukraine’s International Legion aft losing his job.

“When I left, I got fired from my job, I applied connected the International Legion webpage. I had conscionable mislaid everything. I conscionable mislaid my job,” helium said.

“I spot it connected the TV,” helium added, shaking his head. “It was a anserine idea.”

He described however helium had travelled to Ukraine from Britain, saying: “I flew to Krakow, Poland, from London Luton. Bus from determination to Medyka successful Poland, connected the Ukraine border.”

Russian authorities quality bureau Tass reported that a subject root said a “UK mercenary” had been “taken captive successful the Kursk area” of Russia.

The UK Foreign Office said it was “supporting the household of a British antheral pursuing reports of his detention”.