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Russian state media have hailed Ben Stimson, 48, and Aiden Minnis, 37, as ‘heroes’ after they were identified by the Mirror as the first Brits fighting for Vladimir Putin in Ukraine
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Brit Ben Stimson reveals he is fighting for Russia in Ukraine
Russian state media has hailed the British mercenaries fighting for the Kremlin as “heroes”.
President Vladimir Putin ’s propaganda machine went into overdrive after the Mirror identified Ben Stimson, 48, and Aiden Minnis, 37, as the first Brits fighting with Russia in Ukraine. The pair, both former drug addicts and convicted criminals, were used to ramp up the information war.
Some mocked the reaction to them in Britain, with Moscow paper Komsomolskaya Pravda claiming they had “caused hysteria” here. In an online exchange with the Mirror, Stimson claimed he was to be interviewed by state-controlled RT and Sputnik, both banned in the UK.
Stimson, of Oldham, Gtr Manchester, later bragged: “I’m a hero here and a minor celeb. Why would I come back?” Kremlin-owned Moscow newspaper Argumenty i fakty assured readers ordinary Brits do not believe they are traitors and “support the pro-Russian fighters”.
On website antifake.cafe, our story was “Fake of the Day”. Political analyst Konstantin Strigunov said: “Information about British volunteers is presented in a negative context and this plants the idea only unsavoury individuals can be supporters of Russia. It’s a classic manipulative propaganda technique.”
And Liza Gerson, formerly of state-controlled NTV, challenged use of the term “traitors”, saying: “Did Britain declare war on Russia? Who did they betray? King Charles’ crown?” Last night, Kremlin-linked Telegram channel Readovka released an interview with Stimson in which he claims Britain is “a fascist country”, adding: “I love Russia. I wanted citizenship or asylum but it doesn’t look very promising.”
Russian military expert Bruce Jones said their case is unusual as details of outsider fighters are usually kept under wraps. He said: “Most foreigners fighting for Putin stand to be prosecuted in their own countries.”
