https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/two-new-british-mercenaries-charged-in-dpr

Two new British mercenaries charged in DPR

Dylan Healy, 22, and Andrew Hill, 35, both UK nationals, were captured by DPR forces during fighting in April.

British broadcaster Sky News described Hill as a "military volunteer". Hill was charged today by DPR forces alongside Healy for acting as mercenaries for Ukraine's armed forces.

Russia's TASS news agency reported that both men have refused to cooperate and are currently imprisoned in the DPR.

"Criminal cases have been initiated and charges were presented for (mercenarism) against British citizens Dylan Healy and Andrew Hill, currently in detention in DPR. Investigation operations are under way as the investigators look for evidence of the crimes, committed by the British, because they do not want to testify and refuse to cooperate on their criminal cases," a DPR source informed TASS.

Britain's Foreign Office released a statement on Saturday condemning "the exploitation of prisoners of war and civilians for political purposes."

"We are in constant contact with the government of Ukraine on their cases and are fully supportive of Ukraine in its efforts to get them released," the statement added.

Earlier in June, the DPR sentenced to death three mercenaries (two British and one Moroccan) after they were caught fighting alongside Ukrainian militias.

British mercenaries Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48, in addition to Moroccan Saadun Brahim, were convicted by a Donetsk court on charges of terrorism.

According to The Guardian, an official said that the men would have one month to appeal their sentence, and if the appeal is accepted, the defendants would receive a 25-year or life sentence instead of the death penalty.