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Former prisoner-of-war Aiden Aslin has told HARDtalk that, throughout his time in captivity, he was unable 鈥渢o cry even when I wanted to鈥�. The Briton who fought for Ukraine describes being beaten and stabbed shortly after being captured by the so-called Donetsk People's Republic. Aslin says he anticipated being beaten but 鈥渄idn鈥檛 expect to be stabbed鈥�. He had previously tried to build up mental defences, but 鈥渆verything just caved in鈥� at that moment.

Speaking to Stephen Sackur, Aslin noted that whilst torture of Ukrainian soldiers is common, his is an exceptional case because of the proof he can present. Shortly before surrendering in Mariupol, Aslin broadcast a 鈥減re-surrender video鈥� which he says was 鈥渙ne of the greatest decisions鈥� of his life. That video shows him unscathed before he was taken captive. 42 hours later, 鈥渢he decision makers in the interrogation chambers鈥� decided to release a video of Aslin in which he is visibly injured. Aslin declares that this is proof 鈥渢o the whole world of how Russian captivity actually is鈥�. He intends to 鈥減resent that as evidence to the courts鈥� and hopes to face his captors at a war crimes tribunal.

The 29-year-old previously fought with the Kurdish YPG against so-called Islamic State. He recalls that 鈥渋n Syria I probably lost around 30 friends鈥� and that this made him 鈥渘umb to emotion鈥�. However, of all the harrowing experiences he has been through, he feels 鈥渢he most traumatic鈥� was when he 鈥渃ould hear someone being beaten to death鈥� in the cell next to his. Aslin testifies: 鈥渢hat鈥檚 when I do get emotional鈥�, adding that 鈥渢he hardest thing鈥� is that 鈥淚 still don鈥檛 know his name鈥�.

Aslin was released last year in a prisoner swap negotiated by Roman Abramovich and the Saudi government. He has returned to Ukraine, but is no longer serving in the military. He has co-authored a book, recounting the story of his life and captivity, entitled Putin鈥檚 Prisoner: My Time as a Prisoner of War in Ukraine.

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