An Oldham man has reportedly fled the country to fight for Putin's Russia against Ukraine for a second time.

Benjamin Stimson is understood to have left the UK with Wiltshire friend Aiden Minnis for the Donbas region, which is under Russian occupation.

Stimson was jailed for five years and four months for a terrorism offence in 2017 for joining pro-Russian separatists in the east of Ukraine in 2015 

 

His father Martin Stimson told the BBC that he was "horrified" at hearing his son was fighting for Russia and that he had cut off all communication to him.

Speaking to the news outlet, he added: "I have no control over him, he's a 48-year-old man."

Stimson and Minnis are believed to be the first Brits to fight for Russian president Vladimir Putin since the invasion in February 2022, while many more Brits have bared arms for the Ukrainian defences.

In a video posted on YouTube, while dressed in a Russian military jacket wearing a camouflage Under Armour cap, Stimson says: "Yes, yes I'm back in Russia, I'm back in uniform despite the Manchester CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit).

"We've got some British taxpayers returns," disgraced Stimson says as he shows the camera what appears to be a grenade.

While in another video he says: "Every man takes his choice, you lot have chosen to go over to that side but a lot of us, the foreign volunteers, have chosen to come over to this side - to the Russian side."

A UK Government Spokesperson said: “Reports of British nationals taking part in Putin’s illegal invasion are shocking and their alleged actions are reprehensible.

“Those who travel from the UK to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return.”