The sister of a British national currently being held by Russian forces has described a video of her brother broadcast on Russian state television as “distressing and hurtful”.

Aiden Aslin, a former Coldstream Guardsman from Newark in Nottingham, was one of the last Ukrainian soldiers to surrender in the besieged city of Mariupol.

The 28-year-old joined the Ukrainian armed forces as a marine in 2018.

For more than 50 days, he fought to defend his adopted homeland, before a shortage of supplies meant his unit was forced to surrender.

“We had an exchange of video messages with Aiden just before the surrender, to tell him of our love and support,” his sister Shannon Tinegate told Sky News.

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“And in those Aiden had no signs of any physical injuries.”

In a video filmed less than 24 hours later and broadcast on Russian state television, there appear to be cuts and bruises on the former care worker’s face, as he answers questions from a Russian interviewer.

“At least we know he’s alive,” says Shannon. “But all we can go on is his physical appearance. So that part is distressing.”

“He looks exhausted and tired,” she adds. “But he has been fighting for over 50 days, so who wouldn’t?”

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“We’re proud of him but worried…It’s the not knowing that’s the worst.”

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In the video, Mr Aslin’s interrogators seemingly try to blame him for the crimes Russia has allegedly carried out in the port city.

His family says they’re holding on to the fact that he is an enlisted marine and has been since 2018, and as such he should be treated as a prisoner of war under the Geneva Convention.

But some Russian media sources are claiming he is a mercenary, not a soldier.

Shannon says: “Aiden has dual citizenship. His fiancée is Ukrainian, and his life is there.

“He’s a proud Ukrainian citizen, so seeing him called a mercenary is hurtful. We know the truth. We know what he is, and what his goals are.

“He is a compassionate and loving man who believes in freedom and peace.

“We all love him and are doing what we can. We just hope he stays strong and positive.”

Before the war broke out, Mr Aslin told Sky News that people thought he was crazy for signing up to fight and argued he should not even be Ukraine.

“That’s a true argument from their side, but I’m here, my fiancee is Ukrainian, I’ve got a house in Ukraine, I’m building a family,” he said at the time.

“There will always be that person who says I shouldn’t be here, but at the end of the day if I’m not here, like my government’s not here, so like this is the best I can do by doing what my government can’t do.”

Shannon says her brother, who returned from fighting as a volunteer in Syria in 2016, is “courageous and brave, but strong-willed as well”.

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She said her message to Aiden was simple: “Keep your head up, Aiden. Your family are thinking of you and supporting you.

“We love you and we’re proud of you, no matter what is being said, and the whole of Newark and Nottingham is behind you.”

Mr Aslin’s family have contacted the Foreign Office to ask for help in securing his release.

Their other hope is that he could become part of a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia.

Sky News understands the Foreign Office is aware of the detention of a British national and has been in touch with their family.

Whatever route he takes, Mr Aslin’s family just want him to be able to return to the hero’s welcome they believe he deserves.

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