A Russian court has sentenced British soldier James Scott Rhys Anderson to 19 years in prison, accusing him of illegally invading Russia’s Kursk region.
Prison and Penal Colony Sentence
The 22-year-old from Banbury will serve five years in prison, with the remainder of his sentence to be carried out in an unidentified maximum-security penal colony.
Anderson was captured by Russian authorities last year after travelling from London Luton to Poland, then entering Ukraine to join the fight against Russia.
Family’s Fears Over Torture
In an earlier court appearance, Anderson expressed regret, recalling his parents’ warning: “All the time when I’m in my cell, I’m always thinking about how my mum and dad said: ‘Don’t go back, don’t go back.’”
His father, Scott Anderson, 41, told the Mail that he feared his son would be tortured, stating: “I’m hoping he’ll be used as a bargaining chip, but my son told me they torture their prisoners, and I’m so frightened he’ll be tortured.”
British Soldier’s Military Background
A video from the courtroom appeared to show Anderson stating that he served in the British Army from 2019 to 2023.
He was captured during fighting in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops launched a surprise cross-border incursion last summer.
Honoring British Fighters in Ukraine
Meanwhile, three British men who lost their lives fighting for Ukraine—Peter Fouché, James Wilton, and Callum Tindal-Draper—were recently honored at Kyiv’s ‘Heart of Ukraine’ installation.
The memorial, located at Southern Railway Station, commemorates those who died during Russia’s full-scale invasion, which marked its third anniversary on February 24.
The first names displayed on the giant beating heart memorial included employees of Ukrainian Railways, who sacrificed their lives while rescuing civilians or carrying out their duties.
Teenage Queen’s Guard Soldier Previously Detained
In another case, a teenage Queen’s Guard soldier was arrested upon returning to London after traveling to Ukraine to join the war. The soldier, who was reportedly “bored” with his ceremonial role, went AWOL in violation of Ministry of Defence (MoD) orders, causing major security concerns as officials scrambled to intercept him.
