30 March 2024 , 07:30
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Aiden Minnis has condemned Brits supporting Ukraine as he fights for Putin’s army in the Donbas region, claiming on a Kremlin-linked Telegram channel that he would ’continue putting them in boxes’
One of the two Brits fighting for Russia has condemned his countrymen who support Ukraine and vowed to “continue putting them in wooden boxes”.
A fellow British mercenary also railed against his home country, telling a Russian journalist that Britain is not a democratic country but a “fascist state”. We revealed this week how Aiden Minnis, 37, from Chippenham, Wilts, is fighting for Russia in the Donbas region.
We also revealed Ben Stimson, 48, from Oldham, Lancs, travelled to Donetsk to take up arms for Putin. Both men spoke out on Kremlin-linked Telegram channel Readovka on Friday night.
Minnis said: “To the media and the UK Government and the voters who support Ukraine, keep sending khokhols [a derogatory term for Ukrainians], fascists and British mercenaries. We will continue putting them in wooden boxes.” In an earlier interview published on the same channel, Stimson explained why he had joined the Russian forces.
Aiden Minnis claims he is the only foreigner serving in his company of the Russian army
Ben Stimson - one of two Brits fighting for Russia - giving an interview to Kremlin-linked telegram channel Readovka
He said: “It wasn’t democratic that the West wasn’t allowing Donbas to secede from Ukraine. Plus I had personal problems… my business and my relationship were failing.” He also complained that Russia had not kept its promise to offer him an army job and citizenship, or at least asylum.
And Stimson claimed he was beaten up while in jail in Britain, and had two years added to his sentence for refusing a polygraph test. He said of his home nation: “It’s in a terrible state, Britain. They’re using things that the Stasi and the Gestapo used.” But yesterday, pro-Kremlin blogger Graham Phillips cast doubt on Stimson’s reasons for joining up. He said: “I highly recommend checking Ben Stimson thoroughly.”
A Government spokesman said: “Reports of British nationals taking part in Putin’s illegal invasion are shocking and their alleged actions are reprehensible. Those who travel from the UK to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return.”