Brit fighters Aiden Aslin & Shaun Pinner sentenced to DEATH ‘by firing squad’ for fighting in Ukraine after sham trial

BRIT hero fighters Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner have been sentenced to death by a pro-Russian court in Ukraine. The two British volunteers, along with a Moroccan fighter Saadoun Brahim, were handed the death penalty by a military court in the separatist region of Donetsk. ReutersBrit fighters Aiden Aslin, left, and Shaun Pinner, centre, have been sentenced to death[/caption] East2WestBritish volunteer Aiden Aslin surrendered to the Russian army in Mariupol[/caption] East2WestShaun Pinner is also being held in Donetsk by pro-Russian forces[/caption] Aslin and Pinner pleaded guilty to “training in order to carry out terrorist activities” according to a video released by DPR Supreme Court, Russian state media reports. All three men have a month to appeal against to the death penalty, according to the chairman of the judicial board, Russian state media reported. Aslin, 28, from Nottinghamshire and Pinner, 48, from Bedfordshire are being held in the breakaway region in the east of Ukraine. Both men – who have lived in the country since 2018 – said they were serving with regular military units in Mariupol and so should be protected as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention. READ MORE ON UKRAINE BATTLE READY Putin hits back at muscle-flexing NATO war games with major Baltic drills GREAT GRAIN ROBBERY Russia steals £160m of Ukrainian grain as price soars & 44m may starve They were seen in a metal cage in court on a video from the messaging app Telegram alongside Saaudun Brahim. A third Brit, Andrew Hill, also faces charges after being captured in the Mykolaiv area, although his affiliation is unclear. Denis Pushilin, president of the Donetsk People’s Republic, had accused the men of “monstrous” crimes, including trying to seize power and crimes against groups of people. Their sham trial claimed that the men were paid mercenaries who took part in “armed aggression” in Ukraine in order to “forcibly seize power in the DPR for a reward”. Most read in News PLANE TRAGEDY One dead & 2 injured after air force plane crashes into homes sparking blaze 'KIND & CARING' 'Loving' girl, 11, killed after walking in front of car after school DESPERATE SEARCH Two missing & one critical after boat capsizes on lake as search launched ‘ICE-COLD’ Teacher killed & 14 students hurt as driver mows down crowd at 'full throttle' SHOW TRIAL Brit fighters 'plead guilty' in sham Russian court as one faces DEATH PENALTY WATERWORLD SCARE Water park visitors evacuated as swimmers feel sick with itchy eyes The Foreign Office condemned the exploitation of prisoners of war for political purposes in the wake of the footage and said it was working with the Ukrainian government on the issue of British captives. Yesterday, Tory former minister Robert Jenrick said Mr Aslin should be returned home at the earliest opportunity, possibly through a prisoner exchange. The MP condemned the “trumped-up charges” faced by both Britons and accused Russia of a “completely outrageous breach of international law”. Read More on The Sun REST EASY Flight attendant's top hotel safety tip - and you only need a piece of loo roll NOT IN MY YARD I’m furious after the council sold my garden to my neighbours behind my back Russia has not carried out an execution since 1996 and outlawed the death penalty in 1997. However, because the fighters are being held in separatist Donetsk, it isn’t clear whether their captors will uphold Russian law. Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears. Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund. Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded. Donate here to help The Sun’s fund Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles £3 — text SUN£3£5 — text SUN£5£10 — text SUN£10 Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis. In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world. For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund