MOSCOW — A Briton who fought in Ukraine has been sentenced to 13 years in a maximum-security prison, the Russian Prosecutor-General's office has said.

Hayden Davies, a former British soldier who Russia has called a mercenary, was reportedly captured in Ukraine's Donbas region in late 2024 or early 2025 while serving with the country's foreign legion.

He was tried in a Russian-controlled court in the city of Donetsk, which is currently occupied by Moscow.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has been contacted for comment. It had previously described charges against Mr Davies and another Briton captured in Ukraine as "false" and said the pair were prisoners of war.

In a statement earlier this year, the FCDO condemned the detention of both Mr Davies and James Anderson.

"They are not mercenaries. They are prisoners of war," it said.

"Ukraine has confirmed that both are members of Ukrainian Armed Forces. They must be provided all the rights and protections afforded to prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions," the FCDO added.

In a statement, Russian prosecutors said Mr Davies joined the Ukrainian army in August 2024 and "took part in military operations against the Russian armed forces on the territory of [Donetsk Region]".

In court footage released by prosecutors, a man with a British accent speaks via a translator from inside a barred cage, which is standard practice for many Russian hearings.

The man said he was a member of the Ukrainian Army's foreign legion and travelled to Ukraine by bus via Poland.

He said he was paid $400 (£300) or $500 a month as a salary. When asked if he pleaded guilty to the charge, the man said "yeah" and nodded his head.

It is not clear whether he was speaking under duress.

Mr Anderson was jailed for 19 years in March after being charged with terrorism and mercenary activity.

The 22-year-old was the first British national to be convicted by Russia during the war. — BBC