Irish thug fighting for Russia awarded bravery medal for 'wiping out' Ukrainians
Aiden Minnis, 38, left the UK to fight alongside Kremlin forces when Russia invaded the country in 2022.
He is one of two traitors, both former drug addicts and criminals, exposed in a 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, laying mines and explosives in Luhansk, Ukraine.
He now claims he has joined the Russian motorised rifle regiment in the Kharkiv region, storming Ukrainian trenches and positions.
Earlier this month Minnis, who was granted a Russian passport last year, was awarded the Suvorov medal by the Russian Federation for courage 'in defence of the Fatherland'.
He told us he won it 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'.
Minnis, from Chippenham, Wilts, who is of Irish descent, claimed he has had 'many near-miss experiences'. He said: '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 insisted: 'Although it's very hard, it must be done.'
Minnis, who has married a Russian, has declared he hates the UK and called Britain a 'fascist state'. He has also said he would die for Putin, 'the greatest politician on earth'. He has been disowned by his family, who say they want 'nothing to do with him'.
In an interview last month with Russian website RT, Minnis described his life at the Russian front line of Putin's invasion. '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. Every day there are drones, mortars and tank shells.'
Minnis said many fellow 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 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 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 for 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 man exposed by the Mirror, Ben Stimson, 49, of Oldham, Greater Manchester, is also believed to still be fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Last year, he posted a video showing him walking past dead bodies of Ukrainians in muddy fields, and digging up a grenade.
Ex-Army commander Colonel Richard Kemp branded the men 'traitors'. He said: 'These two are an absolute disgrace and are traitors who upon their return to the UK should be arrested and jailed.'
He added: 'They clearly don't know who the enemy is.'
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