Briton who fought in Ukraine jailed for 13 years by Russia

A Briton who fought in Ukraine has been sentenced to 13 years in a maximum-security prison, the Russian Prosecutor-General’s office has said.

Hayden Davies, a former British soldier who Russia has called a mercenary, was reportedly captured in Ukraine’s Donbas region in late 2024 or early 2025 while serving with the country’s foreign legion.

He was tried in a Russian-controlled court in the city of Donetsk, which is currently occupied by Moscow.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said it strongly condemned the sentencing of Mr Davies “on false charges”, adding he was a prisoner of war.

It said: “We remain in close contact with Mr Davies’ family and are providing consular support.”

The FCDO said that under international law, prisoners of war cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities.

It added: “We demand that Russia respect these obligations, including those under the Geneva Conventions, and stop using prisoners of war for political and propaganda purposes.”

In a statement, Russian prosecutors said Mr Davies joined the Ukrainian army in August 2024 and “took part in military operations against the Russian armed forces on the territory of [Donetsk Region]”.

In court footage released by prosecutors, a man with a British accent speaks via a translator from inside a barred cage, which is standard practice for many Russian hearings.

The man said he was a member of the Ukrainian Army’s foreign legion and travelled to Ukraine by bus via Poland.

He said he was paid $400 (£300) or $500 a month as a salary. When asked if he pleaded guilty to the charge, the man said “yeah” and nodded his head.

It is not clear whether he was speaking under duress.

Earlier this year, the FCDO also criticised the case brought against James Anderson, another Briton captured fighting with Ukraine forces, after he was jailed for 19 years for terrorism and mercenary activity.

The 22-year-old was the first British national to be convicted by Russia during the war.