Former British soldier reportedly captured by Russia could be tortured, fears his father

A British national has reportedly been captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine in the Kursk region.

In a video posted on pro-war Russian Telegram channels, he identifies himself as James Scott Rhys Anderson, saying he served in the Royal Corps of Signals.

His father, Scott Anderson, expressed his "complete shock" to hear of his son's capture, telling the Daily Mail: "My son told me they torture their prisoners and I'm so frightened he'll be tortured.

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"We spoke on WhatsApp almost every day until he went on his most recent operation. He was acting as a signalman."

On seeing the video, he described being "in complete shock and in tears. I could see straight away it was him".

"He looks frightened, scared and worried."

Mr Anderson said he and other family members had tried to convince his son not to fight for Ukraine before he enlisted around eight months ago.

He also confirmed Foreign Office officials had contacted him concerning the matter.

In the now widely shared clip, the 22-year-old is dressed in combat fatigues and speaks with an English accent while appearing to have his hands tied.

Speaking to the camera, he says: "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."

He said he signed up to fight for Ukraine's International Legion after losing 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 described how he had travelled to Ukraine from Britain, saying: "I flew to Krakow, Poland, from London Luton. Bus from there to Medyka in Poland, on the Ukraine border."

Russian state news agency Tass reported that a military source said a "UK mercenary" had been taken prisoner in the Kursk area of Russia.

The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment at this stage.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "I have been updated about that development in the last couple of days and of course we will do all we can to offer this UK national all the support we can."