A combat medic from the North East who faced the death penalty after being captured by pro-Russian forces in Ukraine is reportedly one of five Britons who have returned to the UK.

It is understood John Harding, from Sunderland, Dylan Healy and Andrew Hill were set free alongside Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Liz Truss said the release had been secured by working with Ukrainian authorities and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, but the identities of the men were not initially confirmed.

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In July, Mr Harding, who is in his fifties, appeared in a video on Russian television appealing for help from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying he could face the death penalty.

It understood Mr Harding had been fighting in the Donbas region since 2018 and was taken prisoner in May when Ukrainian soldiers he was fighting with at the Azovstal steelworks were forced to surrender.

Non-profit organisation the Presidium Network told the BBC on Thursday all five men were “back safely in the UK”.

Dominik Byrne, co-founder of the organisation, which has been providing aid to Kyiv, said the men were “looking forward to normality with their families after this horrific ordeal”.

The Foreign Office has not commented on the whereabouts of the men.

Mr Aslin’s release was confirmed by his local MP Robert Jenrick, while multiple reports also indicated that Shaun Pinner would also be returning home.

A video emerged late on Wednesday of two men sitting inside an airliner, in which Mr Aslin introduced himself and Mr Pinner, adding: “We just want to let everyone know that we’re now out of the danger zone and we’re on our way home to our families.”

Mr Pinner interjected: “By the skin of our teeth, ”as Mr Aslin continued: “We just want everyone to know the good news etc, so thanks to everyone that’s been supporting us and whatnot, so it’s really muchly appreciated.”

Mr Pinner added: “Thanks to everybody.”

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A court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic had sentenced Mr Aslin to death alongside fellow British detainee Mr Pinner in July.

Ms Truss, who is visiting New York for a UN summit where world leaders are discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine, tweeted: “Hugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine are being safely returned, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families.”

She thanked Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky “for his efforts to secure the release of detainees, and Saudi Arabia for their assistance”.

She added: “Russia must end the ruthless exploitation of prisoners of war and civilian detainees for political ends.”

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