Two Britons and a Moroccan who fought on Ukraine’s side and were captured have been sentenced to death by a court in the pro-Russian breakaway region of Donetsk, according to Russian news agency RIA. The three men announced an appeal against the verdict of the rebels’ “supreme court”, as reported by Russian news agency TASS.
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The British Foreign Office had previously said the prisoners were being used for political purposes. They are accused of being mercenaries. However, the families of the British men claim that they were part of the Ukrainian army.
Both Britons serve in Ukraine’s armed forces, according to the BBC, and the UK has clarified that they are entitled to immunity as prisoners of war and should not be prosecuted for their participation in hostilities.
Fighting continues in Sieverodonetsk
According to Ukrainian sources, hundreds of civilians use the air-raid shelters at the Asot chemical plant. According to Luhansk governor Serhiy Gajdaj, four people died when the factory was bombed. According to him, the Russian army now controls most of the city. Ukrainian fighters can still hold the industrial zone.
Ukrainian forces would be able to “cleanse” the city once they received long-range artillery. A Ukrainian commander also complained about the lack of artillery. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously described the battle for Sievjerodonetsk as “pointing the way” for eastern Ukraine. “In many ways, the fate of our Donbas will be decided there.”
Kyiv awaits EU candidate status
After talks in Berlin, Zelenskyy’s special envoy for EU membership prospects expressed confidence that his country would receive EU candidate status. If the EU Commission makes a corresponding recommendation next week, it assumes the 27 member states will agree at the June 23-24 summit in Brussels, said Regional Development Minister Oleksiy Tschernyschow.
Debate: What could lead Russia to peace?
The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has lasted more than three months. Initial peace talks froze. How should the West’s reactions be assessed so far? What chances does diplomacy have today? What could lead Russia to peace?
Discuss with debate.ORF.at!