A British citizen currently fighting for Russian forces in the conflict against Ukraine has rejected claims that he is a traitor. Ben Stimson, 50, a former antiques dealer from Oldham, Greater Manchester, has been involved in the fighting since 2024, aligning himself with Russia’s military efforts.

Stimson has a history connected to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. In 2014, he traveled to the Donbas region to join a pro-Moscow militia, for which he was subsequently jailed in the UK for over five years on terror-related charges. He has expressed a strong affinity for the ethnic Russian population in the Donbas and framed his decision as one to protect those communities.

Speaking about his current role, Stimson said he initially served in the Russian military as an engineer before transitioning to work as an instructor for English-speaking recruits. He emphasized that he has not personally engaged in lethal combat, stating that he has “killed nobody.”

Having been granted Russian citizenship, Stimson faces the likelihood of arrest if he returns to the United Kingdom. He dismissed accusations of betrayal toward his country, suggesting instead that his actions might be viewed as a betrayal by the British government rather than by the British people.

His involvement in the conflict and the legal repercussions highlight the complex issues surrounding foreign fighters participating in the ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.