Ex-British soldier imprisoned by Russia says he feels abandoned in occupied Ukraine

Ex-British soldier imprisoned by Russia says he feels abandoned in occupied UkraineJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleWill VernonFCDOHayden Davies joined the Ukrainian army's foreign legion as a volunteerA 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 upsettingIn 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...