British Mercenary Sentenced: A 13-Year Prison Term

British national Hayden Davies has been sentenced to 13 years in a Russian maximum security prison camp. Accused of being a paid mercenary, Davies fought for Ukraine against Russia. Tried in Russian-held Donetsk, Davies allegedly joined Ukraine's International Legion in 2024 and was captured with a U.S. assault rifle.

In a dramatic turn of events, Hayden Davies, a British national, has been sentenced to 13 years in a maximum security prison camp by a Russian court. Davies was accused of being a paid mercenary after joining the fight for Ukraine against Russia.

According to Russian prosecutors, Davies arrived in Ukraine in August 2024, where he enlisted in the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine. He underwent military training before participating in combat against Russian forces in Donetsk, a region under Russian control since 2022.

The prosecutor's office noted that Davies was captured in winter 2024 while armed with a U.S.-made assault rifle and ammunition. The Russian authorities have not disclosed his plea regarding the charges.

(With inputs from agencies.)