Russia claims over 140 British "mercenaries" killed in Ukraine war

The Russian authorities have claimed that 141 British “mercenaries” have been killed in the war in Ukraine.

The figures came from the Russian ministry of defence without names or clear evidence of how the numbers were calculated, Mirror said on August 9. 

Britain is seen as third among European countries in the number of deaths among foreign fighters.

Some 436 mercenaries arrived from the UK since the war started on 24 February, and 141 died, the Russian defence ministry reported.

A total of 1,837 came from Poland with 643 allegedly killed.

Some 505 “mercenaries” came from Romania, with 156 killed, say the Russians.

This compares with 608 fighters from Canada, with 213 killed, and 565 from the US with 241 killed.

This comes as two British fighters Sean Pinner, 48, and Aiden Aslin, 28, are appealing a “court” verdict in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic which sentenced them to death for allegedly fighting as “mercenaries” in eastern Ukraine and killing civilians.

The Foreign Office has accused Russian and its proxies in Donetsk of "exploitation of prisoners of war and civilians for political purposes”.

Russia and the DPR have claimed Britain has failed to help the detained men.