Two British fighters, Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin, who have been captured by Russia's armed forces in Ukraine, have appeared on Russian state media asking to be exchanged for a pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk.

Shaun Pinner, 48, and Aiden Aslin, 27, appeared on Russian television asking to be exchanged for Viktor Medvedchuk after being promoted by an unseen man and asked that Prime Minister Boris Johnson help bring them home.Ukraine's secret services captured the pro-Kremlin politician, Medvedchuk, after he went AWOL from his house arrest three days into the invasion. He is the leader of Ukraine's main opposition party - Opposition Platform For Life - and has been described as the Russian President's right-hand man over the border.

A Russian television journalist, Stanislav Kucher told CNN that, "Medvedchuk is a guy who is considered by a lot of Russians and Ukrainians as a great master of con."Mr Medvedchuk said he was a making a "plea for the Ukrainian side to exchange me for the defenders of Mariupol and its citizens who are there today have no opportunity for a safe exit through a humanitarian corridor"

.In the heavily-edited video, Pinner appears to be question by a Russian journalist about how he was captured.Pinner would go on to answer, saying that: "We were in the factory area of Mariupol."In early hours of Tuesday morning, it was decided we move from the area of the factory, but we didn't know exactly where."At about four in the morning we left the factory."The interview continued but Pinner's voice was not readily audible so it was subtitled in Russian.He continued: "It was very dark. We took the injured with us."Mortar and artillery shelling began, military aviation worked. Panic began.

Everyone started running in different directions."My commander seems to have disappeared."I still don't know what happened to those who were there with me."The families of both men have said that they are not mercenaries or volunteer fighters and should therefore be treated as prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

Pinner's family have said that: "Shaun enjoyed the Ukrainian way of life and considered Ukraine as his adopted country over the last four years. During this time, he met his Ukrainian wife who is very focussed on the humanitarian needs of the country."He progressed into the Ukrainian Marines as a proud member of his unit. At the end of 2022 his three year contract is due to end and he was planning to enter a humanitarian role within Ukraine."We would like to make it clear he is not a volunteer nor a mercenary, but officially serving with the Ukrainian Army in accordance with Ukrainian Legislation."Shaun is a funny, much loved well intentioned Husband, Son, Father, Brother and Friend to many."