Newark soldier Aiden Aslin released from captivity in Ukraine and returning to UK, announces Liz Truss

Newark soldier Aiden Aslin, who was sentenced to death in Donetsk, has been freed by his captors.

The shock news was revealed by the new Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Aiden is one five Brits to be released.

The PM, who was trying to secure Aiden's release as Foreign Secretary, said in her tweet: "Hugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine are being safely returned, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families."

Newark MP Robert Jenrick, who has campaigned for Aiden's release, said: “I am delighted that my constituent, Aiden Aslin, and the other British prisoners of war held captive by the Russian authorities have finally been released and are on their way back to the UK.

"I am deeply grateful for the work undertaken by the Ukrainian government, the Saudi Crown Prince, the Prime Minister, and the dedicated civil servants working in the Foreign Office’s Detainees team to bring their horrific ordeal to a close.

"Aiden’s return brings to an end months of agonising uncertainty for Aiden’s loving family in Newark who suffered every day of Aiden’s sham trial but never lost hope. As they are united as a family once more, they can finally be at peace."

Aiden had submitted an appeal against the death sentence he was handed by a Russian separatist provincial court not recognised by international law. There were reports of execution sites being prepared and even that the sentence had been carried.

But, today, came the remarkable news his family had been waiting for.

Aiden, 28, was captured while fighting for his adoptive homeland, Ukraine, in the besieged city of Mariupol in April and is being held by the the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

Aiden stood trial alongside Bedfordshire's Shaun Pinner, 48, and 21-year Moroccan Brahim Saadoun, from Kyiv, who were also both serving members of the Ukrainian armed forces and, as such, should be afforded the protections of the Geneva Convention.

All three were sentenced to death by firing squad.

All three were living in Ukraine long before the war and are not the foreign mercenaries they have been portrayed to be by the Donetsk People's Republic, a breakaway republic from Ukraine.