Russia-Ukraine live updates: Mariupol ‘holding on’ despite calls to surrender; West to send fighter jets

LONDON — The family of a British man who appeared to be captured while fighting in Ukraine described footage of him on Russian television as “deeply distressing” and said it was trying to secure his release.

“He is not, contrary to the Kremlin’s propaganda, a volunteer, a mercenary, or a spy,” read a statement from the family of Aiden Aslin that was shared with The Washington Post on Wednesday. It said Aslin joined the Ukrainian marines after moving in 2018 to the country, where he settled in the southern city of Mykolaiv and later got engaged to his girlfriend.

Aslin’s family members described him as speaking under duress “and having clearly suffered physical injuries” and said they were in contact with the British Foreign Office to “ensure the Russian authorities meet their obligations to prisoners of war under international law.” Robert Jenrick, a British lawmaker for Nottinghamshire, said he was working with Aslin’s family, his constituents, to “ensure his swift and safe release.”