‘The Times’: Scot in Russian army says Russia is ‘last bastion of common sense’

Photo: ‘The Times’

Jay Fraser, a former brewery worker with ultra-conservative has been serving in a volunteer unit of the Russian army since last year, reveals ‘The Times’.

It has never been clear exactly how the 24-year-old Scot and a handful of other Britons ended up enlisting in the Kremlin’s invading force.

For the first time, Fraser has hinted that before he signed up he received military training in an unnamed Balkan country. He made the revelation in an interview with a pro-Kremlin newspaper published in occupied eastern Ukraine.

“My sergeant likes to say that the training ground is not for real, it is playing at war, and that the real school is where the bullets are whistling,” he said.

“And he is right. When shells are bursting over your head and you can hear the cries of the wounded over the radio, that is when you understand what real war is.”

The Scot, who is said to have converted to Russian Orthodox Christianity, is serving in a unit called Pyatnashka, which was originally formed in the unrecognised and self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic.

An international brigade, now incorporated into the Russian military, it is understood to include a number of Orthodox Serbs.

Fraser in the latest report talked more about his ideology. Speaking to a Donetsk newspaper, he claimed to support Scottish independence but loathe the SNP.

“Our proud nation is slowly but surely surrendering to an onslaught of liberal insanity,” he told the paper. “We have become hostages to financial handouts from Westminster, and are selling our souls for sterling, and in return we get an illusion of prosperity.”

He added: “The soul of Scotland is still flickering but London is doing everything it can to extinguish the last flames. I don’t think we should sacrifice our sovereignty for money, so I support independence.

“The spirit and soul of Scotland have definitely been oppressed. But when it comes to the values that are being put forward, Scotland is worse than the rest of Britain. For example, the SNP, which fights for independence, is the most liberal party in Britain.”

In what he described as a message to fellow Scots, Fraser said his fight was for them too. He said: “If we win here that means there is a chance for Scotland. I believe that my homeland will remember its soul, its roots. But I have decided to tie my future with Russia, which is the last bastion of tradition, faith and common sense.”

Fraser also repeated previous statements that he was ready to kill British solders in Ukraine. He already believes there are intelligence services operating in the country.

He said: “If the British government is so stupid that it officially sends troops there then I will have no problem fighting against them. Combating the government that has destroyed my country has always been attractive to me.”

The newspaper said Fraser was currently on the Kursk front. Asked what he wanted to do after the war, he said: “In the long run I would like to bring Scottish ale and lager to Russia by opening up a brewery.”

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