A former British soldier sentenced to 15 years in a maximum-security Russian prison colony has told the BBC he feels abandoned by the UK government.
Hayden Davies was captured in Ukraine by Russian forces more than 18 months ago after joining the Ukrainian army’s foreign legion as a volunteer. He was convicted of mercenaryism, which means taking part in a military conflict for material reward as a so-called “private soldier”.
Davies was sentenced to 13 years in a Russian prison in December last year by a court in Donetsk, a Ukrainian city occupied and controlled by Russia. The UK does not recognise the court or Russia’s occupation of the city. Last week, a judge in Moscow added two more years to the sentence, after ruling Davies’ initial jail term was too lenient.
A UK Foreign Office (FCDO) spokesperson told the BBC: “We remain in close contact with Hayden Davies’ family and are providing consular support. We strongly condemn the sentencing of Mr Davies in a Russian-controlled court on false charges of mercenaryism.”
The following paragraphs contain details some readers may find upsetting
In letters written to the BBC from inside a detention facility, Davies says he was captured by Russian forces after being seriously injured on the front line. “My radio broke, my partner was killed and I couldn’t escape,” he writes, “I had to make a decision: lie there and die, or take action. I crawled 150 metres [500 feet] to reach an area I knew. It took a whole day.”
Davies says the pain from his injuries was unbearable, with bones protruding from his leg. “I reached a ruined house with a basement and decided to stay there. Luckily, there was lots of tinned food.”
The former soldier says he treated his wounds as best he could, pushing the bone back inside the leg. “I’ve never experienced such terrible pain in my life. I made a splint and crutches out of wood,” he writes. Davies stayed in the basement for two months until Russian soldiers discovered him.
The 33-year old says he was imprisoned on his own for a whole year before being put in a cell with other prisoners.
He told the BBC he felt lonely in prison, and hadn’t had any contact with representatives of the British government: “I served my country for 12 years in the [British] Army, and now, when I need help and medical treatment, no-one wants to know. This is a disgrace!”
British officials are regularly denied access to detainees in Russia, and cannot travel to occupied Ukrainian territory.
All letters exchanged with Russian prisoners are read, and often censored, by the Russian authorities. Davies gave his permission for the letters to be published. His family declined to comment when contacted by the BBC.
Human rights organisations and other international bodies have accused Russia of systematically denying prisoners of war (POWs) and other detainees appropriate medical treatment, which Moscow denies. The International Red Cross says it does not have full access to POWs in Russia and Russia-controlled territory, which is a requirement under the Geneva Convention.
A source close to Davies said the soldier had a serious injury to his leg and “he’s getting no help at all”. The person added that representatives of the British government had not been in contact with Davies’ legal team, who are based in Russia.
Writing to the BBC in March, Davies says he has received only one letter from his sister. The BBC understands he has since received a letter from another relative.
“The attitude towards him in the prison is bad because he’s British, [Russia says] he’s a mercenary,” says Anastasia Shevchenko, a respected political activist based in Lithuania who helps POWs in Russian captivity.
Russian authorities insist prisoners are treated in accordance with law and international standards, and reject accusations of mistreatment.
Shevchenko told the BBC she informed the British authorities of Davies’ capture last year after speaking to Ukrainian POWs held in the same prison, who put the two in contact.
She says she informed the British Embassies in Ukraine and Lithuania about Davies’ imprisonment: “They thanked me, and that’s it…From Kyiv, I got the message that we wish him to be brave, and we think about him, and…that’s all.”
“For me, this is very strange because [POWs] are starving in prison, they need help immediately,” the activist adds, “I sent [Davies] money so he could buy some food there… the food they are given is not enough. Every month they need food, clothes and medication.”
The FCDO did not respond to specific requests for comment on Shevchenko’s claims.
She says other countries do more than the UK to help their imprisoned nationals.
“[The British] can do everything possible to swap Hayden and give him the support in prison so that he could feel like people around are thinking about him,” says the activist, “This is the most important [thing] in captivity, not to be forgotten.”
A source in the Ukrainian government with knowledge of the matter told the BBC they’re unaware of any “active work” by the UK authorities to assist imprisoned citizens.
Ex-soldier Shaun Pinner, who was captured in eastern Ukraine in 2022, was sentenced to death by a Russia-controlled court and spent five months in Russian captivity with four other British men before they were freed in a prisoner swap.
The UK government was “exceptionally good at keeping in contact with my family”, he said, but it played no part in his exchange, which was brokered by the Saudi government.
He believes it’s very difficult for the government to get involved in prisoner exchanges: “The best outcome is if it goes through Ukraine. I can understand there’s a lot of frustration over lack of access but if Russia doesn’t let diplomats in to see POWs, there’s not a lot you can do,” says Pinner.
The FCDO told the BBC: “”Under international law, Prisoners of War cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities. We demand that Russia respect these obligations, including those under the Geneva Conventions, and stop using Prisoners of War for political and propaganda purposes.”
In its travel advice for Ukraine, the FCDO advises: “If you travel to Ukraine to fight…your activities may amount to offences under UK legislation. You could be prosecuted on your return to the UK.”
It adds that “British nationals fighting in Ukraine have been killed or captured…The British Government’s ability to support you in these circumstances is very limited.”