British traitor's sick Kremlin bravery medal for 'wiping out' Ukrainians
A British thug who is fighting for Russia in Ukraine has bragged about being awarded a bravery medal by the Russian army for 'wiping out' Ukrainians.
Aiden Minnis, 38, from Chippenham, Wilts, left the UK to fight alongside Kremlin forces when Russia invaded the country in 2022.
He is one of two British traitors, both former drug addicts and criminals, exposed in a Daily Mirror investigation last year. They face jail for terror offences if they return home.
Minnis, who spent time in jail in the UK for a violent racist attack, initially worked as a sapper - combat engineer - laying landmines and explosives in Ukraine 's Luhansk region.
He now claims he has joined the Russian motorised rifle regiment n the Kharkov region, storming Ukrainian trenches and positions.
Earlier this month Minnis, who was granted a Russian passport last year, was awarded the Suvorov medal, a a state decoration of the Russian Federation awarded to ground troops for courage in combat 'in defence of the Fatherland'.
He told the Mirror he was given the medal for 'wiping out numerous khokhols (a derogatory term for Ukrainians). I hope I get many more for killing the fascists and eliminating the Nazi scourge.'
He added: 'I work as a stormtrooper, basically infantry and assault, trench clearing and eliminating enemy positions.'
Minnis claimed he has had 'many near miss experiences, by drones, bullets, tank and mortar shells.
'Last year I was wounded by shrapnel. A kamikaze drone hit the dugout, I was left with a fractured leg and multiple deep shrapnel wounds. I was in hospital for a few months.'
But he insists: 'Although it's very hard fighting, it must be done.'
Minnis, who has married a Russian, has proudly declared he 'hates' the UK and previously called Britain a 'fascist state'. He has also said he is prepared to die for Putin, calling him 'the greatest politician on earth'.
He has been disowned by his family who claim they want 'nothing to do with him'.
In an interview last month with Russian website RT, Minnis described his life at the Russian frontline of Putin's invasion of Ukraine. 'My tasks can vary. You can spend several months in the trenches or participate in an evacuation or assault. There are many variables here depending on what is happening operationally.
'I get very nervous sometimes. Where we are is a very dangerous and active zone. It's impossible to relax or switch off, even being in your positions. Every day there are drones, mortars and tank shells.'
Minnis said many of his fellow Russian soldiers had been killed. He said: 'That's the hardest part. When you get to know them on the deepest level, and then sadly they make the ultimate sacrifice. It's happened many times here.'
He admitted that his decision to fight for Russia meant family and friends cut him off. He said: 'My parents disowned me. We've always had a difficult relationship, and unfortunately they believe what they see on TV and in the media.
'Many of my friends turned away from me for the same reason. But at least it made me realise they were never my friends. It was painful but to be expected'
He added: 'However, I am dedicated to my work and have nothing but love for Russia. No matter how difficult it is, and no matter how hard the fighting is, I'm indebted to Russia.
'It took care of me.Here I found freedom, got citizenship, got married, bought a house. All this would never have happened in my homeland.'
Before leaving the UK Minnis had a long record of arrests for violence. In December 2008 he was jailed for four years after launching an unprovoked racist attack on a man in Swindon, smashing him over the head with a bottle of port.
Two months after the assault Minnis robbed a man of his wallet and attempted to rob another, punching him in the face. The thug was also arrested months later for assaulting a homeless man.
Another Brit exposed by the Mirror, Ben Stimson, 49, from Oldham, Lancs, is also believed to still be fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
Last year he posted a video from the frontline showing him walking past dead bodies of Ukrainians in muddy fields, and digging up a grenade. He is also understood to have been disowned by his father.
Former British Army commander Colonel Richard Kemp branded both men 'traitors'.
He told the Mirror: 'There two are an absolute disgrace and are traitors who upon their return to the UK should be arrested and jailed. They clearly don't know who the enemy is.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Evening Standard
a few seconds ago
- Evening Standard
UK sanctions Russian spies trying to ‘destabilise Europe'
'The Kremlin should be in no doubt: we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we won't tolerate it. That's why we're taking decisive action with sanctions against Russian spies.'
South Wales Guardian
5 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Sister pays tribute to drowned Briton who ‘died trying to save his friend'
King Edonmi, 29, and Mo Liasu, 27, both from Ipswich, lost their lives less than 24 hours after arriving on holiday in Albufeira, on Portugal's southern coast. The pair are believed to have drowned in a hotel swimming pool on July 15. Candles, flowers and tealights spelling out the men's names have since been laid near flats on Ipswich Waterfront. Kemi Edonmi, King's sister, paid tribute to her brother online, writing: 'My best friend is really gone. 'Rest in peace to my big brother and his best friend Mo, we love you and will never forget you both. 'The whole family is comforted by the fact that King died in Christ. 'From Jesus – For Jesus – Back to Jesus. We shall all meet again.' She said King had died while trying to save Mo's life. 'My brother died trying to save his friend's life,' she said. Some local reports suggested the men had been drinking, but Ms Edonmi insisted this was not true. 'My brother and Mo do not drink and were not intoxicated at the time of the incident,' she wrote. 'Articles with false information and insensitive comments don't know the pain they're causing the people closest to King and Mo.' A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the families of two British men who have died in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities.' A fundraising page launched in the men's memory has raised more than £22,000 to help pay for the repatriation of their bodies. It said: 'On what was meant to be a joyful holiday in Portugal, our two dear friends Mo and King tragically lost their lives less than 24 hours after arriving. 'What was supposed to be sunshine and laughter turned into heartbreak no one could have imagined.' The Policia Judiciaria, Portugal's criminal investigation police, said the incident is not being treated as suspicious. A spokesperson said: 'The inspection of the scene revealed no evidence of criminal activity. 'Witnesses to the events were interviewed, confirming the investigation's belief that it was an accident.'
Western Telegraph
9 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
UK sanctions Russian spies trying to ‘destabilise Europe'
Those sanctioned include a unit that targeted the daughter of Sergei Skripal years before Russian agents attempted to murder him in Salisbury with the nerve agent Novichok. Others are accused of belonging to units that have carried out cyber attacks in the UK, France, Germany and the US – while also facilitating strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine. The UK and our allies are striking at the heart of Russia's energy sector by lowering the Oil Price Cap. This will directly hit Putin's most critical revenue stream and drain his war chest. We will keep up economic pressure as we stand by — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) July 18, 2025 Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 'GRU spies are running a campaign to destabilise Europe, undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and threaten the safety of British citizens. 'The Kremlin should be in no doubt: we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we won't tolerate it. That's why we're taking decisive action with sanctions against Russian spies.' In total, 18 officers of the GRU, Russia's military intelligence unit, have been sanctioned, along with three men linked to Moscow's efforts to spread disinformation in West Africa. They include five men said to have been involved in a cyber attack on Yulia Skripal in 2013, in which the GRU's Unit 26165 targeted her emails with malware known as X-Agent. Development of X-Agent is said to have been overseen by Lieutenant-Colonel Sergey Morgachev, and involved Aleksey Lukashev, Ivan Yermakov, Sergey Vasyuk and Artem Malyshev, who have all been sanctioned. Yulia Skripal the daughter of Russian spy Sergei Skripal (PA) Lukashev and Yermakov are said to have carried out the attack on Ms Skirpal's emails, five years before members of a separate GRU unit poisoned her and her father with Novichok. The Foreign Office accused Unit 26165, which is already sanctioned, of attempting to disrupt investigations into the attempted murder of the Skripals along with another already-sanctioned GRU outfit, Unit 74455. On Friday, the UK added GRU Unit 29155 to the sanctions list, accusing it of carrying out the poisoning and saying the incident 'underscores how GRU Units integrate cyber operations into hybrid activity with the aim of furthering the Kremlin's objectives'. Also sanctioned are Aleksey Morenets and Yevgeney Serebriakov, accused of carrying out 'close access operations' against the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, Netherlands. As well as carrying out cyber attacks in Western Europe, Unit 26165 is said to have conducted operations in Ukraine, including carrying out reconnaissance that facilitated the 2022 attack on the Mariupol Theatre that killed hundreds of civilians, including children. Several of the men sanctioned on Friday are already wanted by the FBI in the United States. They include Colonel Aleksandr Osadchuk, said to be the commanding officer of Unit 74455. He and others have been charged with a series of offences in connection with Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 US election. Other men sanctioned by the UK on Friday, including Morenets and Serebriakov, are accused of targeting anti-doping organisations and other sporting bodies around the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. Meanwhile, the UK joined the EU in lowering the price cap on Russian oil as Ukraine's allies sought to increase pressure on Moscow to engage in peace talks. The cap, which is currently 60 US dollars per barrel, will fall to 47.60 dollars from September 2 in a move Chancellor Rachel Reeves said was aimed at 'exploiting' President Vladimir Putin's 'biggest vulnerability'. Energy revenues account for around 30% of the Russian state's income, making them a key source of funding for the Kremlin's war in Ukraine. Ms Reeves, who is attending a meeting of G20 finance ministers in South Africa, said: 'The UK and its EU allies are turning the screw on the Kremlin's war chest by stemming the most valuable funding stream of its illegal war in Ukraine even further.' Mr Lammy added the UK would not 'stand by' while Mr Putin 'continues to stall on serious peace talks'.
