Shaun Pinner

Shaun Pinner is a former soldier of the British Army who joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a contracted fighter in 2018 and fought during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. During the siege of Mariupol, he was captured and sentenced to death in a show trial by the Supreme Court of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), but was freed in September in a prisoner exchange. In December 2022 he was awarded the state ‘Order of Courage, 3rd Degree’ in a decree by President Zelensky for “selfless acts in the defence and sovereignty of Ukraine”.

Shaun Pinner
Pinner in 2022
Born1974 (age 48–49)
Bedfordshire[1]
Allegiance British Army
United Nations
 Ukraine
Service/branch
Unit 36th Separate Marine Brigade
Battles/wars

Biography

His service in the Ukrainian marines makes him an active-duty soldier protected by the Geneva conventions on prisoners of war.[3] However, Russian state media has portrayed him as a mercenary. Another British citizen, Aiden Aslin and the Moroccan Saadoun Brahim, received identical verdicts in the same trial.[4] British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted that: "The judgement against them is an egregious breach of the Geneva convention."[5] The defence attorney did not even ask for an explanation as to why the existing arguments against mercenary status were not been taken into consideration, simply saying instead that "the guilt of my client has been fully established".[6]

I'm married to a Ukrainian. I have got every right to be here (...) It’s taken me a long time to integrate here, so the guys know I’m not a war tourist or war junkie.

Shaun Pinner in an interview with Sky News while on the frontline.[2]

Pinner was described by his family as a well-respected soldier within the British Army, where he served in the Royal Anglian Regiment.[7] He spent nine years in this regiment with a spotless record.[8] He also volunteered to fight against ISIS in the Middle East and served with the United Nations mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[2]

After retirement, Pinner was employed for some time as a waste manager in Watford, Hertfordshire, working for about 16 hours a day.[8][7] Pinner moved to Ukraine with his Ukrainian wife before joining the nation’s armed forces in 2018.[9] Being an experienced soldier, Pinner was made a squad commander in Ukraine.[8]

At the time of his capture, he was due to complete his three-year military contract later in 2022 and was hoping for a humanitarian role.[10][11] Pinner considers Ukraine to be his adopted country over the last four years, calling Mariupol his home city.[7]

On 29 June 2022, Pinner appealed against his death sentence, requesting for it to be changed to life imprisonment.[12] The appeal was to be reviewed within a two-week period; if rejected, Pinner would, according to his lawyer, request to be pardoned by the head of the DPR.[13] A day later the European Court of Human Rights told Russia to ensure that the death penalty is not carried out on Pinner and fellow prisoner Aiden Aslin.[14] Russia, however, has said it no longer complies with the ECHR's prescriptions,[14] although the country is only due to withdraw from the organisation in September 2022.[15]

Pinner was released in a prisoner exchange in September 2022.[16]

See also

References
  1. "Second British soldier captured in Mariupol is paraded on Russian TV". The Guardian. June 14, 2022.
  2. "Shaun Pinner: soldier facing firing squad said before invasion he was 'no war tourist'". The National (Abu Dhabi). June 10, 2022.
  3. "Who are the British fighters captured by Russian forces?". Sky News.
  4. "Britons sentenced to death after 'show trial' in Russian-occupied Ukraine". The Guardian. June 14, 2022.
  5. "Family of UK man sentenced to death by Russia call for cooperation". The Guardian. June 11, 2022.
  6. Pinner’s defence to appeal death sentence on grounds of humanity. dan-news.info (pro-Russian site)
  7. "Who are Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner? How the British men sentenced to death sought a new life in Ukraine". i. June 10, 2022.
  8. "Who are the foreigners sentenced to death by Russian proxies?". english.nv.ua. June 10, 2022.
  9. "Over 150 British veterans of Afghan war going to Ukraine". Arab News. March 1, 2022.
  10. "Who are Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner?". dailynationtoday.com. June 10, 2022.
  11. "Who are Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner?". BBC. June 12, 2022.
  12. "Адвокат британского наемника Шона Пиннера обжаловала его смертный приговор". EADaily (in Russian). June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  13. "Приговоренный к казни британский наемник попросит о помиловании". РЕН ТВ (in Russian). June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  14. "European court tells Russia to ensure two Britons do not face death penalty". Reuters. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  15. "Rights at risk: Russia's withdrawal from the ECtHR". OpenGlobalRights. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  16. "Britons held by Russian forces in Ukraine released". BBC News. September 22, 2022.
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