Former British Soldier Criticizes Political Soundbites on Ukraine
A former British Army soldier, Shaun Pinner, who was captured while fighting alongside Ukrainian Marines, has expressed his frustration with what he describes as political “soundbites.” His comments come in response to Sir Keir Starmer’s recent statement about the possibility of deploying UK troops as part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
At 51, Pinner has a harrowing story; he was sentenced to death and tortured during five months of captivity after being seized by Russian-backed forces in April 2022. Initially, he served in frontline trenches for seven weeks after Russia’s invasion, later engaging in intense house-to-house combat in the besieged city of Mariupol.
The Prime Minister has characterized the situation in Ukraine as a “generational challenge,” emphasizing the need for Europe and the UK to take more decisive action. He revealed a willingness to send a British peacekeeping force into Ukraine if a peace agreement with Russia is reached. However, Pinner, a former soldier with the Royal Anglian Regiment, argues that NATO troops should have been deployed to Ukraine long ago to counter the looming threat from Russia, likening the conflict to “World War Two on steroids.”
Pinner voiced his concerns in an interview with The i Paper, stating, “I’m fed up with the soundbites. I’m fed up with Macron soundbites. I’m fed up with British soundbites. Until we see some definitive action, I just take these like water off a duck’s back at the moment.” He emphasized the urgent need for action, saying, “I just want to see some boots on the ground. We have been hearing this for years.”
He believes that troops should have been positioned along the Dnipro River 18 months ago, criticizing Europe for being “so slow to act it’s beggars belief.” Pinner added, “I think we should have been doing this once we realized that North Korea and Iran were in Russia’s coalition in invading Ukraine.”
Currently residing in the city of Dnipro, which is three hours from the frontline, Pinner highlighted the impact of USAID cuts that have resulted in his wife and other humanitarian workers being furloughed or made redundant. He lamented that these cuts, initiated after Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) dismantled the agency, are undermining the essential support systems in Ukraine. “It’s just another kick in the nuts for Ukraine,” Pinner said. He noted that Trump’s intentions to negotiate with Putin are concerning, leaving many uncertain about the future and claiming that Europe has not responded adequately to the situation.
Pinner, originally from Watford, Hertfordshire, was released in September 2022 alongside fellow British nationals Aiden Aslin, Andrew Hill, John Harding, and aid worker Dylan Healy, all of whom had served with the Ukrainian military. Now working for Prevail, a demining non-profit organization, he has to wear glasses for life due to injuries sustained when Russian forces detonated a train bomb laden with 800kg of explosives at the position of Ukrainian troops in Mariupol prior to his surrender.
In his current role, Shaun Pinner engages with NATO military troops and participates in Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training programs, sharing insights from his experiences both on the frontline and during captivity. Although he is back in the UK for a brief stint, he is scheduled to address a rally in Trafalgar Square, London, on February 24, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
While he advocates for Western troops to be involved in Ukraine, Pinner expresses doubt regarding the British Army’s capability to undertake a comprehensive peacekeeping role independently. “I’ve just watched a half a million army fight half a million army, and now they’re recruiting again. We wouldn’t last a month,” he asserted.
Pinner emphasizes the importance of British troops gaining experience in the current conflict, stating, “The drone advancements alone have come on in two years. Russia is now building its ballistic missiles. You’re not fighting in a green zone or a safe patrol harbor anymore. This isn’t Afghan or Iraq; it’s espionage, cyberspace, satellites.” He characterizes the war with Russia as a struggle between “good versus evil,” noting that serving military members he knows stationed in countries like Poland are “itching” to get involved.
He warned, “If Putin is successful in Ukraine, then really Russia, Iran, and North Korea will form a significant coalition, just six hours from Germany.” Pinner anticipates that Russia will forcibly conscript Ukrainian males of fighting age, exacerbating Europe’s challenges. “The Kremlin will gain access to all Ukrainian battlefield innovations, including the sea babies (multi-purpose unmanned surface vehicles), drones, ballistic missiles, and rocket technology,” he explained.
Furthermore, he highlighted the strategic danger posed by Russia’s potential advancements, stating, “He will maneuver his ballistic and nuclear arsenal closer to places like London, Berlin, and Paris, with less time to react to missile launches. It’s a real security risk for Europe, because he won’t stop.”
