Pro-Russian separatist forces have confirmed they are “preparing an execution site” for two British fighters captured during the Ukraine invasion.
Aiden Aslin, 28, originally from Newark in Nottinghamshire, and Shaun Pinner, 48, from Bedfordshire, were both fighting for Ukraine when they were captured by Russian forces.
The pair have been treated as foreign “mercenaries” by authorities in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), who sentenced them to death last month.
And now, a statement from the DPR reportedly said they were “preparing a place for their execution”.
Aiden Aslin has been sentenced to death
SUPREME COURT OF DONETSK PEOPLE
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Reuters
They added that the Brits would be killed by firing squad and without prior warning.
DPR spokesman Denys Pushilin said: "Everything is ready. It won’t be public," as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Mr Pushilin said the court was considering appeals submitted by the pair on July 4.
But once the appeal process is completed, “Their cases will be transferred to the executive service for implementation, by firing squad,” he added.
Earlier this month, The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) urged Russia against killing the two Brits.
The Strasbourg-based court indicated to Moscow that it should ensure the death penalty imposed on Mr Aslin and Shaun Pinner is not carried out.
Mr Aslin and Mr Pinner were living in Ukraine before the invasion and the UK Government has insisted that, as legitimate members of the Ukrainian armed forces, they should be treated as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention.
The ECHR said the men are married to or live with Ukrainian nationals and consider Ukraine to be their home.