Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Luhansk has said that the death sentences given to the two British soldiers fighting in Ukraine for the Ukrainian military, by Russia is “not applicable” as both soldiers would have signed official documentation when they joined the Ukrainian army.

On Thursday Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48, were sentenced to death at a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic for taking action towards violent seizure of power.

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However, Aslin and Pinner are protected under the Geneva Convention Act as they signed up to the Ukrainian military years before the war in Ukraine started and have settled in the country for many years.

Haidai told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, “All the people who come to fight on the Ukrainian side sign documents with the armed forces of Ukraine, hence they acquire official status.

“That’s why they are subject to the Geneva Convention if they’re taken as prisoners of war.

“This kind of verdict is not applicable to them, even if they are not Ukrainians.”

The governor of Luhansk added, “From what I know the lawyers already appealed against this verdict and I believe what is happening is just political pressure coming from Russia.”

The Russian-owned news agency RIA Novosti said on Telegram, “The Supreme Court of the DPR passed the first sentence on mercenaries – the British Aiden Aslin and Sean Pinner and the Moroccan Saadun Brahim were sentenced to death, RIA Novosti correspondent reports from the courtroom.”

The British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said, “I utterly condemn the sentencing of Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner held by Russian proxies in eastern Ukraine.

“They are prisoners of war.

“This is a sham judgment with absolutely no legitimacy.

“My thoughts are with the families. We continue to do everything we can to support them.”

The British government are very concerned over their case being used as a bilateral issue between the UK and Russia, which will assist the Kremlin using the narrative that the two British fighters are “mercenaries” therefore they will not be afforded the protection as prisoners of war under international law.

The British Foreign Secretary is to discuss the death sentences which was handed to two captured British fighters with her counterpart Dmytro Kuleba later today.