UK Minister urges People to avoid Ukraine

UK government minister Brandon Lewis has given more reaction about the two British men reportedly captured by Russian forces. Shaun Pinner, 48, and Aiden Aslin, 28, have appeared on Russian state TV asking to be exchanged with a pro-Russian politician held in Ukraine.

Lewis was asked on Sky News if a swap was something the government would consider. “We’re actually going through the process of sanctioning people who are close to the Putin regime, we’re not going to be looking at how we can help Russia,” said Lewis.

He later told the BBC he did not want to comment further on the case of the two British individuals.

Lewis said people from the UK should not go out to Ukraine. He said: “People should not be taking what is in reality an illegal route through into a very dangerous situation.”

“We really should be very clear with people, that isn’t what they should be doing.” He added

Both of the men in this case had been living in Ukraine before it was invaded and both have Ukrainian partners.

They had both been serving as marines in Ukraine’s military.

BBC /Shakirat Sadiq