The Prime Minister tweeted: “Hugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine have been returned safely, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families. He thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “and Saudi Arabia” for their help. “Russia must end its merciless exploitation of prisoners of war and civilian prisoners for political purposes,” he added. Health Minister Robert Jenrick said one of those released was his constituent, Aiden Ashlin. Image: This photo, released by SPA, Saudi Arabia’s official news agency, appears to show the freed prisoners after their contact in the capital Riyadh In June, he was one of two Britons arrested by Russian forces and charged as mercenaries. They appeared before a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, a breakaway region in eastern Ukraine. The identities of those released have not yet been confirmed by the government. Jenrick tweeted: “I am delighted that my constituent Aiden Ashlin and the other British POWs held by the Russian authorities have finally been released and are returning to the UK.” He said he was “deeply grateful” to the Ukrainian government, as well as the Saudi crown prince and the “detainee team” at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who he said were involved in securing the release. “Aiden’s return ends months of agonizing uncertainty for Aiden’s loving family in Newark, who suffered daily from Aiden’s sham trial but never lost hope. As they are united as a family once again, they can finally be quiet.” Read more: Family members of Britons facing death row in Donetsk have spoken of their devastation since their arrest Image: The freedmen disembark. Photo: SPA – Saudi Press Agency Free also US citizens The Foreign Office had been working for months to support the detainees, but Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is also believed to have been involved in helping to free the British nationals. In addition to the five Britons, two US military veterans who disappeared while fighting Russia with Ukrainian forces have also been freed after about three months in captivity. Alex Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, both of Alabama, went missing when their unit came under heavy fire in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine near the Russian border on June 9. Months of suffering UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverley welcomed the news on all counts. “This ends many months of uncertainty and suffering, including the threat of the death penalty, for them and their families at the hands of Russia,” he added. Although he also remembered Paul Urey, a British aid volunteer who died earlier this year while being held in similar conditions, and said “our thoughts remain with the family”.
