Aiden Aslin is one of the two men who are currently in Russian custody. They were sentenced to death just a few days ago, and Aslin has now reached out to his family to let them know that the execution is expected to go through.

The British citizen has been accused of helping fight a proxy war against Russian forces in a court that is recognised by no international body. He, along with Shaun Pinner, has been deemed terrorists instead of soldiers and was handed down a death sentence.

Aslin reportedly told his family that Russian forces had been telling the duo that UK officials had made no effort to get the two men out of their flight.

Aslin’s grandmother, Pamela Hall, told the BBC: “There are no words, just no words. It’s got to be everyone’s worst nightmare to have a member of your family threatened in this way. Aiden was extremely upset when he called his mother this morning. The bottom line is Aiden has said the DPR has told him nobody from the UK has made contact, and that he will be executed.”

“I have to believe what Aiden has said to us, that if the DPR don’t get some response, then they will execute him. Obviously, I hope that isn’t true,” she said.

Russia is trying to sidestep the Geneva convention by claiming that the men are terrorists, when it is in fact clear that they became legitimate members of the Ukrainian army, even building a home for their families in the country prior to the war.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has confirmed that the British government is working with Ukrainian officials in a bid to get the two men out. Meanwhile, the families of both the men are being supported by the Foreign Office as well.

Zelensky has also weighed in on the situation and said that Russia’s treatment of the two men was a “tragic habit” and “there cannot be any justifications for such actions.”

It’s disturbing the lengths that Russia is going to, even as the whole world watches. Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner’s lives hang in the balance.