A Briton imprisoned by Russians in Ukraine was forced to record his “last words” to his daughter in a chilling propaganda video while pleading with Boris Johnson for help.
John Harding, originally from Sunderland, is held by pro-Russian separatists in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, it is understood.
5
5
The clip, shared on Telegram, shows Harding – who is in his 50s – being interviewed by a Russian TV host.
He appeals to the prime minister to get him and says he could face the death penalty.
He said, “I would say to… Boris Johnsonif you can help, if you can influence President Zelensky, if you can influence the president of the DPR, or if you can influence President Putin, please do so.
“People’s lives depend on this. So if you can, please help.”
The presenter – Putin stooge Marina Kim – then pressed Harding to reveal his last words to be his daughter.
She asked, “Maybe it could be like your last words – what would you tell (your daughter)?”.
He replied, “Of course I would tell her I wish I had spent more time with her.”
Kim then asked if he wanted to tell his daughter that he loved her, to which he said, “Of course. All fathers love their daughters.”
It is clear that Harding was caught by Russians when he defended the Azovstal steel plant in disputed Mariupol with Ukrainian units as part of the Azov regiment.
They were forced to surrender after relentless bombing by Putin’s troops.
Harding told his friends that he was part of the Ukrainian National Guard, which began fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine since 2018.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed concern about his arrest.
Two other British men, Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, who were also captured in Mariupol, have been sentenced to death by a Russian proxy court in the DPR.
Both she and Mr. Harding had moved to Ukraine around the same time and had made the country their home.
The DPR court is not internationally recognized. Secretary of State Liz Truss has called the death sentences a “sham sentence without any legitimacy”.
The British government has said they should be treated as prisoners of war under the laws laid down in the Geneva Conventions.
It comes as two other Britons – Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner – also receive the death penalty.
‘KILLERS’
Putin’s separatist warlords in eastern Ukraine have said they are “preparing a site for the couple’s execution”.
hero fighters Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48 – both serving members of the Ukrainian army – were sentenced to death through a kangaroo court after allegedly tricked into admitting they are terrorists.
The pair were captured after running out of ammunition during the brutal siege of Mariupol and convicted of illegal mercenaries in a mock trial by Putin’s proxies in the occupied Donetsk region.
Separatist Forces in the East Ukraine now have accelerated plans to execute the two Britons.
A chilling statement from officials in the Donetsk region reportedly said they were “preparing a site for their execution” – which would be by firing squad and without any prior warning.
The date of their execution will not be announced in advance.
A shocking video showed Aslin is forced to sing the Russian national anthem for state television.
The convicted aid worker had to give a rendition in very disturbing images.
In the meantime, British aid worker Paul Uley from Manchester died last Sunday while held hostage by pro-Putin separatists after being captured with fellow Brit Dylan Healey on a mercy mission to save civilians.
The 45-year-old’s distraught mother has criticized Putin’s “damned killers” for letting him die in captivity.
He was allegedly accused of “mercenary activities” by officials in the Donetsk People’s Republic of eastern Ukraine after Moscow-backed separatists insisted he was a “professional” soldier.
Putin front man Daria Morozova claimed the Briton died on July 10 “from illness and stress”.
5
5
5