Britons sentenced to death for fighting Russian forces in Ukraine - BBC News 

Tell that to the people tortured in Guantanamo bay without charge.

As a veteran that is risk you take, but my love of my country and family tradition, that is my highest form of gratitude. God bless

Foreign mercenaries in war are not covered by international laws and conventions . As a result, prisoner protection laws do not apply to them .

I don't feel sorry for them, this is what happens when you interfere in a foreign war

I find it ironic for Russia to be executing prisoners with a very clear history of what has happened after such events.

Similar fate was given to people who joined forces in Syria to fight Bashar. Point taken: Never be a victim of proxy war, you become expendable!

what you expected - hugs, flowers, and free ticket home?! long time ago everyone was warned not to interrupt.

Tell that to the people that spent multiple years, and were tortured in Guantanamo bay without charge.

My grandma used to say: the one who is looking for troubles will find them for sure.

bruh u just ignored the moroccan guy with them like he doesn't exist so weirddd

Well, his job is to kill the enemy so it's just a fair trade. Many Ukrainian soldier who died leave their family forever, the same to the Russian soldiers.

Who asked them to go there and partake in the conflict

I remember seeing this guys smiling, joking and dancing in a video the other day

If u not willing to die for your cause stay home... No retreat No surrender

Even though this is sad they knew the risks.Really unfortunate.Good luck boys.

"Rules of war?" There isn't such a thing in practice.

When call of duty gets real.

Nobody asked them to fight as mercenaries. The choice was their own. So they were well aware of the consequences. No need to be so sorry.

YPG fighter caught without air support...

I feel bad for them, but seriously, don't go fight in someone else's war. War is folly enough as it is, fighting in someone else's war when you don't have to is madness.

1:47 noticed this guy was called Brennan Phillips, seeing your name on someone else back to front is an odd feeling.

They’re lucky they even got a trial.

Their own fault for going there without knowing the full consequences

They did this to themselves. Never interfere with some other country's war.

If I have decided to fight for Ukraine or any other country I would never surrender if I will not be treated as a prisoner of war.

Sounds like Russian troops should be subject to the same treatment then, especially high ranking officers.

Good. Stay home and enjoy your life rather than fighting for something you have no business with.

You live by the sword you die by the sward.

Why so shocked....? Russian military spokesperson earlier sad, any mercenary captured would be best treated as criminals.

Did Western forces followed the rules of the war while fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen? What about Geneva convention in the cases earlier mentioned?

I am sure Russia would like to get that guy back as a soldier once again

Beginning of this war the Western world encouraged those who can fight to help Ukraine some UK MPS even said publicly they not going to be prosecuted. Just like the fight against ISIS then as time went on they changed saying the experience this people would gain can cause trouble at home of cause initially it was in reference to those who joined the terrorist but the message got convoluted and then the politician realised that they had to add those fighting for the so called democracy. Now publicly UK defence secretary saying no one should go to Ukraine why because they realise the numbers are getting higher and family members are going to start complaining. My point is never fight any war based on politician views or influence. The reality is that there’s no way nuclear power Russia would lose a war like this in its backyard. What’s becoming clear is that the country is going to break up, already some European leaders are quietly softening their positions. This was always going to be the case. So the question is why didn’t they stop this before at least Ukraine would have had it’s country. Just like WWII this so called super powers are going to carve Ukraine up.

0:15 bad map, those are not the positions of severodonetsk and lysychansk. lysychansk is immediately to the south-west of severodonetsk just on the other shore of a river, and I'm pretty sure that severodonetsk is slightly to the south-west of the marked position, too.

I likes this saying: "It's old men who want wars. It's young men who die for idiot leaders in wars."

If he's a Ukrainian citizen why is the UK even concerned?

It’s better to Die fighting than Executed after surrendering 😕

Lysychans'k is south-west of Severodonetsk not how its displayed on the map, there seems to be a mix-up with Luhansk. If something as simple as the map is wrong what else is wrong in BBC reporting?

I mean what did they expect lol

Britons go to to Syria to fight: Terrorism Britons go to Ukraine to fight: Heroes

It's so sad to hear this same time shame on BBC even didn't mention third person I think because he's not British.

These aren't men who have gone to Ukraine solely to fight in the war. They lived in Ukraine for years after marrying Ukrainian women and bravely joined to fight for their adopted country. Its completely correct to say this is a complete violation of the Geneva convention that protects POWs, they are not mercenaries. Even by the standards of Russia this is sickening.

I wonder about the confessions of guilt , we’re they promised prisoner exchange if the confessed or were they tortured ?

Whoever stands against my country will have to face the consequences.

We need to know why!!!!!

As the man say's, an execution is unlikely. That would be like killing the golden goose...

I suppose they're thinking, it's not like this in my computer game!!

What the hell did you think was going to happen?? You go to fight a War that has NOTHING to do with you, and now, when caught, you expect what exactly??

Russia has been kind enough, Remember what's considered of men that went to fight for Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran? Well Yes... They are all Mercenaries... That's what they are.. Handle them like one.

Thank you for your report. I always appreciate receiving angles not reported by U.S. news outlets.

War crimes deserve condamnation no matter what side of the conflict you happen to support

Russia officially abolished the death penalty in the early 2000s, so even if they're not violating international law they're violating their own laws

Omg..😱..😢

In the war, kill or be killed are always ready for all.

What of the Moroccan guy ? Why hasn’t he talked about

Actions do have consequences

За решёткой такие невинные и праведные. )

its crazy how people think they have rules for war they are no rules in war its win or lose

Lots of foreign governments has tacitly encouraged it's citizen to go there and fight. these governments are morally responsible for taking care their families after their death. Thank you for standing up.

Was UK saying the same thing about Afghan cab driver having no trial & being killed by US soldiers?

Rules of war.....imagine that. Who makes the rules? How can they?

Nicaragua, Belarus, Syria and Venezuela have expressed their support for the Russian recognition of the DPR's independence.

This mercenary knew the consequences when they join the war.

You joined a war, you got caught by the enemy, punished for it and cry about it? Bruh

How is this being allowed????

Those first worlders are like “ where’s my respawn button “

42 bot comments in 5 min, damn it seems like the russians are really feeling the hurt of the war

What about the Moroccan guy, Brahim Sadoun, he got death sentence too. He's never mentioned.

So sad 😞

When will it end?

But these people are mercenaries, you can find videos of them fighting in Syria and north Africa

That's so sad

Rules of war? What a laughable thing to say

How else can Russia discourage other mercenaries? These prisoners will remain on death row until the war has concluded and then they will be released.

Mercenaries are not covered by Geneva War Convention, unfortunately.

That's is so sad

That is so sad 😥

send more British!!!! lol

It's their own faults for getting involved and getting caught, they now have to accept the consequences and get ready for the horrors that Russian prisons bring

Britain needs to make it clear that any harm inflicted on them will bring a direct military response.

This should prevent people from wanting to be a mercenary

Nice to know the US military medic trained the British soldier in Ukraine... so I guess the war started way before this and Britain and the US were already combatants

Russian trolls certainly earning their vodka and potatoes on this video.

This is tragic

GOOOD! !!!!!!

well i guess brits and the rest of the world can accept the same for there captured fighters fighting for ukraine

How do you say they were not taking part in helping Ukraine against Russia when they're wearing military combat?

Playing hero isn't a good idea

Isn't funny that we live in a "free" world and yet they can sentence you just because you have different opinions?

Dying for Zelensky is the only tragedy here...

These are the risks we accept when fighting a war

Serves you well !!

They were not legal combatants and thus can be sentenced to death.

Swap them for Truss. She'll think she's going to the Baltic 😂

If they are 'Britons' they have no business in the region and are therefore mercenaries are should be treated as such

The Russian Army, coming to a town near you real soon, because no one is stopping this war .

They got released it was on the news

Many rules are made by weak and strong people. War rules help maintain our civil and human rights preventing unnecessary cruelty and barbaric acts. Yet we don't get to always choose who the enemies are and how and or why they fight. Nationality has nothing to do with why these men on Ukrainian soil are captured. Other British men were bombed to death at the beginning of this war near the boarder to Poland. Ukraine is a kill or capture war zone.

Oh well. They are mercenaries, not soldiers. And according to the Geneva Convention's article 47, this is what happens to mercenaries if caught. BTW They got captured and judged by the DPR army (Donetsk People's Republic). Not by the Russian army.

Am I correct was he in Ukraine defence force in 2017, when they were under watch list in western countries? Because of far right and new Zealand shooting connections to a certain Ukraine forces that has been recognised in defence force. And we aren't allowed to talk about now

In war there are no rules....