'It was a stupid idea': Former British soldier fighting for Ukraine captured by Russian forces in Kursk

A former British soldier who was fighting for Ukraine in the ongoing war has been reportedly captured by Russian forces on the battlefield. The 22-year-old man identified himself as James Scott Rhys Anderson, The Independent reported. The news stirred major headlines after a video of Anderson was shared on Telegram and was circulated widely on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Russian news outlet Tass reported that the country’s military sources maintained that a “UK mercenary” had been “taken prisoner in the Kursk area” of Russia. Things became clearer after the UK Foreign Office told The Independent that it was “supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention”.

What does the video entail?

In the video, the man was seen dressed in combat fatigues and spoke in an English accent. His hands were tied throughout the video as he shared details about himself. “I was in the British Army before, from 2019 to 2023, 22 Signal Regiment. Just a private. I was a signalman. One Signal Brigade, 22 Signal Regiment, 252 Squadron," the former soldier said to the camera.

He went on to claim that he signed up to fight for Ukraine’s International Legion after he lost his job. “When I left, I got fired from my job, I applied on the International Legion webpage. I had just lost everything. I just lost my job,” he said. “I see it on the TV,” he added, shaking his head. “It was a stupid idea.”

He went on to explain how he travelled to Ukraine from Britain and expressed regret over his decision. “I flew to Krakow, Poland, from London Luton. Bus from there to Medyka in Poland, on the Ukraine border," he averred. The British Ministry of Defence has yet to comment on the matter.

Thousands of people from around the world travelled to Ukraine to help the country fight the war after Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, issued a call in February 2022. Many went on to join units such as the International Legion, known as the most selective of the foreign groups and operating as part of a military unit within the Ukrainian ground forces.