The History Podcast (BBC Radio 4)

Two Nottingham Lads: Episode 3 – Six Weeks in Mariupol

Release Date: January 7, 2026
Host/Narration: Paul Kenyon

Episode Overview

This episode follows the harrowing journey of Aidan Aslan, a British-Ukrainian soldier, and his friend Sean Pinner, as they are caught in the siege of Mariupol in early 2022. The story weaves through the chaos of the Russian invasion, personal decisions at the front, desperate survival during the siege, their ultimate capture, and the psychological and physical torment endured in captivity. Meanwhile, Graham Phillips—another Nottingham native—appears as a pro-Russian journalist who interviews Aidan under duress, highlighting a deeply human and disturbing collision of lives from the same British city on opposite sides of war.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Aidan’s Capture and Show Trial

• [01:02–03:56] Aidan Aslan is captured by Russian-backed DPR forces, labeled a "Nazi war criminal" and accused of being a mercenary—a crime carrying the death penalty.
• [03:22] Aidan is coerced to make propaganda videos:

  "It's the third day of my court trial. I pleaded guilty on all three charges. The prosecutors asked for the death sentence. So, yeah, I just want to let people know this could be my final video. I'm praying to God." — Aidan Aslan

• [04:18] He expresses his emotional and spiritual state post-sentencing:

  "People are wondering how I feel right now, like after, after the sentence. I'd say emotional, like scared, worried. Speak to God quite a lot, like every day." — Aidan Aslan

2. The Siege of Mariupol

• [06:05–07:06] The episode rewinds to the initial invasion (Feb. 24, 2022), placing Aidan in the midst of battle near Pavlopil:

  "When the invasion happened, we went out to do our first fire mission. It was completely hell on earth with the sound... obviously the realization is set in, okay, like, now it's war." — Aidan Aslan

• [11:11–12:45] The Mariupol steelworks becomes a refuge for trapped Ukrainian soldiers, described as an eerie, industrial “city within a city.”

3. Survival and Decision Under Siege

• [13:16–15:23] With food and ammunition exhausted, soldiers must choose between desperate escape attempts or surrender:

  "I could either go with him and those that are going to attempt to break out... or I could choose to walk out... or I could stay in the bunker and officially surrender..." — Aidan Aslan [13:16]
  "Because I was British, I was never going to surrender... I joined the vehicles and the lorries going out." — Sean Pinner [14:20]
  "At one point I was listening to music and watching at the sunrise and I'm thinking, well this is the last beautiful thing that I will see." — Prebek [14:41]

• [15:23–16:16] Aidan elects to surrender, contacts his mother:

  "'Mum, things are really bad. We're gonna have to surrender. But he said, if you don't hear from me, just know that I love you and try not to worry too much.' Well, that was it, basically. Then I was crying, and I was just so emotional." — Angela Aslan (Aidan’s mother) [15:57]

4. Capture and Abuse

• [18:29–21:20] After surrender, Aidan is identified as British, immediately assaulted, and subjected to mock execution and torture:

  "As soon as I said Great Britain, he, like, punched me on the nose. The next thing I remember, I was on my knees and he was like cocking his rifle." — Aidan Aslan [18:29]
  "As he was like smoking it, I remember him saying, like, did you see what I did to you? ...and I realized I'd been stabbed with a knife. And he then asked me if I wanted a quick death or if I wanted a beautiful death." — Aidan Aslan [20:27]

• [21:50–22:25] Sean Pinner recounts his own experience being tortured after capture:

  "They put clips to my little fingers and pumped through volts of electricity... All you can hear is electrical current. You can't move, you can't say anything because everything's welded shut." — Sean Pinner [21:50]

5. Propaganda and Graham Phillips

• [22:57–26:50] Both men are forced to make propaganda videos for the Russian side. When journalist Graham Phillips—also from Nottingham—enters, it is with a mix of embarrassment and dread for Aidan:

  "He has a very heavy British accent and it's embarrassing to listen to. And I remember thinking to myself, like, oh my God, please don't be who I think this is... So I knew straight away it was Graham Phillips." — Aidan Aslan [22:57]

• Graham conducts an aggressive, one-sided interview, labeling Aidan a mercenary and denying him the protection of the Geneva Convention, while Aidan’s torturer stands just out of shot.

  "The guy who beat and stabbed me, he was to the side, obviously. He seemed to know Phillips quite well." — Aidan Aslan [25:42]

• Aidan reflects on the dark irony of meeting a fellow Nottingham local under such circumstances:

  "I did think it was a bit ironic. Out of all the places in the world where I meet someone from Nottingham, it's in captivity on two sides of the conflict." — Aidan Aslan [26:50]

6. Impact on Families and Moral Reckoning

• [27:27–28:04] Angela Aslan, Aidan's mother, reacts with shock and disgust after seeing Graham’s video online, noting the inclusion of personal family details:

  "The opening lines will stay with me forever. The fact that he had named my daughter, he'd named me... After watching the video, I'd done my research on him online articles and seen what kind of a person that he was... Despicable, horrible, disgusting individual." — Angela Aslan [27:27]

• Graham’s old friend Les Scott reflects:

  "This is the sad thing about war is people lose their empathy and their humanity." — Les Scott [28:22]

7. The Show Trials and Death Sentence

• [29:19–29:40] Aidan recalls the sentencing, a moment of total despair:

  "I just like listened to the judge... and I just hear smert Nikaz. It literally just means death sentence. And I was like, this is, this is like worse than it could possibly be. And it was at that moment like I just mentally just like completely lost all sense of hope." — Aidan Aslan [29:19]

• [29:10–29:15] Sean Pinner describes the purpose of the trial:

  "I just thought it was, was a trial by public opinion and for the Russian masses." — Sean Pinner [29:10]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Aidan Aslan on impending death:

  "I'm praying to God. This could be my final video." [03:22]

• Commentary from the siege:

  "It was just shock and awe." — Sean Pinner [06:49]

• On survival, from Prebek:

  "At one point I was listening to music and watching at the sunrise and I'm thinking, well this is the last beautiful thing that I will see." [14:41]

• On Graham Phillips’ presence:

  "Please don't be who I think this is... So I knew straight away it was Graham Phillips." — Aidan Aslan [22:57]

• Angela Aslan on seeing the interview:

  "The opening lines will stay with me forever. The fact that he had named my daughter, he'd named me." [27:27] "Despicable, horrible, disgusting individual." [27:59]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Aidan’s trial and death sentence: [01:02–04:37]
• Initial Russian invasion & frontline chaos: [06:05–07:31]
• Siege of Mariupol and choices under fire: [13:16–16:35]
• Decision to surrender and family contact: [15:46–16:49]
• Capture, torture and mock executions: [18:29–21:20]
• Propaganda videos & Graham Phillips’ interview: [22:57–26:50]
• Family and moral reflections: [27:27–28:44]
• Show trial and sentencing moments: [29:19–29:40]

Concluding Thoughts

This episode paints a vivid, deeply personal and journalistic account of war—the trauma, impossible choices, and the unpredictable connections that emerge, as seen through the lives of Aidan Aslan, Sean Pinner, and Graham Phillips from Nottingham. The episode carefully uncovers how international conflict collides with local identity, and the consequences for individuals caught in the crossfire—physically, psychologically, and morally. The family perspective and legal implications add further weight to an already intense narrative.

The next episode promises to bring closure to the stories of both "Nottingham lads," raising further questions about justice, complicity, and humanity in modern warfare.