British soldier Aiden Aslin – fighting in Ukraine – has been captured by Russian forces.
He has been pictured for the first time since Mariupol fell.
His photograph was shared on a pro-Donetsk People’s Republic Telegram account.
The soldier – from Newark, Nottinghamshire – was said to have surrendered after running out of food and ammunition.
The 28-year-old moved to Ukraine after meeting his fiancée from Mykolaiv.
Mr Aslin has dual-nationality and was serving with the 39th Brigade Ukrainian Marines when he was captured.
The picture shows him handcuffed, bruised, and battered.
He is displaying his distinctive tattoos on his arms.
It is not known where he is being held or what Russia plans to do with him.
However, he will no doubt be used a political pawn by Moscow and be part of a propaganda war.
It is hoped he will be released in an exchange of prisoners – but only after he has served a purpose.
Aiden’s mum Ang told The Newark Advertiser:
“It’s Aiden I can’t deny it.
“It’s him. They are his tattoos.
“There is a faint hope it is a doctored image, but I can’t see it.
“We want him to be safe.”
“I now hold Vladimir Putin to the terms of the Geneva Convention.
“Aiden is a serving member of the Ukrainian armed forces and as such is a prisoner of war and must be treated with humanity.
“It already looks like he has been beaten up.
“It is time now for the British Government to get involved. and help secure Aiden’s release because he is still a British citizen.
“Possibly there is hope for a prisoner swap arranged by the Ukrainians.
“I’m in bits. My son will be scared just as we are.”
His family have asked Russians to treat him in a “humane and dignified” manner.
Aiden’s brother Nathan earlier told the MailOnline:
‘We don’t have too much information at this stage.
“All we know is that Aiden’s unit commander has been in communication with his opposite number in the Russia Army negotiating a possible surrender early this morning.
“If the Russians do have Aiden captive, we would want to remind them of the Geneva Convention and to treat him and other soldiers in a humane and dignified way.
“This is a worrying time for our family.
“Russia has a reputation with how it deals with its prisoners.
“Aiden may well become used as a propaganda tool by the Russians and be paraded about.
“We just hope they don’t do anything drastic.
“We want him to be safe.”
The former care worker, who was said to have “fought like hell”, reportedly told a friend that Russian forces were looking for him specifically to capture the Westerner who had been updating his followers on social media “from the trenches”.
Aiden passed on a message to his followers, saying:
“It’s been 48 days. We tried our best to defend Mariupol, but we have no choice but to surrender to Russian forces.
“We have no food and no ammunition.
“It’s been a pleasure everyone, I hope this war ends soon.”
The fighter has been keeping his followers updated over social media.
He called for the West to bring an end to Putin’s “civilian bombing” campaign.
In his latest selfie video, he confirmed he was still alive in the war-torn city of Mariupol.
A friend added on an Instagram page:
“He said he loves you all.
He is strong in spirit and showed no weakness at all.
“He is surrendering to Russians which is only slightly better than surrendering to the Chechens.
“Their commander will be meeting them soon.
“Please Lord have mercy.”
More than 10,000 civilians have died in the battle for Mariupol.
The town’s Mayor Vadym Boychenko feared the death toll could be twice that number.
