A Briton who fought in Ukraine has been sentenced to 13 years in a maximum security prison, the Russian Prosecutor General’s office said.
Hayden Davies, a former British soldier whom Russia has called a mercenary, was captured in Ukraine’s Donbas region in late 2024 or early 2025 while serving in the country’s foreign legion.
He was tried in a Russian-controlled court in the city of Donetsk, currently occupied by Moscow.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been contacted for comment. He had previously described charges against Davies and another Briton captured in Ukraine as “false” and said they were both prisoners of war.
In a statement earlier this year, the FCDO condemned the detention of both Mr Davies and James Anderson.
“They are not mercenaries. They are prisoners of war,” he said.
“Ukraine has confirmed that both are members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They must be provided with all rights and protections granted to prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions,” the FCDO added.
In a statement, Russian prosecutors said Davies joined the Ukrainian military 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 through a translator from inside a barred cage, which is standard practice in many Russian hearings.
The man said he was a member of the foreign legion of the Ukrainian army and that he traveled to Ukraine by bus via Poland.
He said he was paid $400 (£300) or $500 a month as salary. When asked if he had pleaded guilty to the charge, the man said “yes” and nodded his head.
It is unclear whether he spoke under duress.
Anderson was sentenced to 19 years in prison in March after being accused of terrorism and mercenary activity.
The 22-year-old was the first British citizen convicted by Russia during the war.
