Banned pro-Putin blogger gives backing to Scots mercenary injured fighting for Russia

COPS in Scotland are probing a Glasgow mercenary who lost an eye while fighting for Russia – as a banned pro-Putin blogger gave the Scot his backing.

Officers from Police Scotland have launched an investigation into the circumstances around Ross McElvenny’s alleged involvement in the war with Ukraine.

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It’s understood cops attended McElvenny’s family home in Newton Mearns, Glasgow, after he signed up in August this year.

Scots cops have provided little detail into their investigation but it’s understood they have spoken with relatives of McElvenny, 25, who remains in hospital in Russia.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We have been made aware and enquiries are ongoing.”

A woman, who did not identify herself, declined to speak about McElvenny’s situation when she was approached at the family home.

But last night a pro-Russian blogger dubbed Lord Haw Haw over his support for dictator Putin shared his backing for McElvenny.

Graham Phillips – banned by the UK Government in 2022 – claims to have been in contact with McElvenny.

Phillips, of Nottingham, is connected to McElvenny through social media and posted his support for the Scot in a Facebook page.

He said: “You may have read about Scottish volunteer fighter for Russia Ross McElvenny in the UK media, in an obviously negative way.

“I’ve been in touch with Ross, who is a nice guy, a young man, 25.

“Sadly, Ross’ injuries are quite serious, he has lost an eye, and has a serious injury to one of his legs.

“He is currently in hospital in Rostov-on-Don receiving full medical care, and attention.

“There was never any threat of Ross being ‘deported from Russia to the UK’, as has been reported.

“From his first day in hospital in Rostov, Ross was visited by migration services, and his application for Russian citizenship is being fast-tracked.

“Ross has expressed his gratitude for all the support he is receiving right now – he is being well looked after, and cared for, and is in positive spirits.”

Last month it emerged Phillips has been given official sanctuary in Russia after years of spreading Kremlin propaganda.

The former YouTuber was hit with UK Government sanctions after he was accused of spending his career as a Kremlin puppet and interrogating a British Prisoner of War.

Phillips describes himself as an independent journalist who acts with “complete integrity” on all stories.

But he was banned from Ukraine in 2014 and widely condemned in April 2022 after he interviewed Putin’s PoW Aiden Aslin.

After he was given the sanctions, Phillips was quickly given the moniker of Lord Haw Haw.

During World War II a number of people were handed the nickname for spreading far-right Nazi propaganda from Germany to the UK.

One of the most well-known men to be dubbed Lord Haw-Haw was William Joyce – an American-born fascist.

We told this week how the Foreign Office is in touch with the injured Scot’s loved-ones.

He is recovering in hospital in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don – according to a video said to have been posted on the Telegram app.

In the clip shared with Russian troops, McElvenny – calling himself a “volunteer from Scotland” – is reported as saying: “My name is Ross, call-sign Whisky, but you may know me as Scotlandetz.

“I am currently recovering in hospital as I was wounded while fighting near Donetsk.”

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Photos also appear to show him with a Saltire on his helmet and in camouflage with other troops.

Certificates signed by Lieutenant Colonel Yury Kuznetsov appeared to confirm the Scot was serving as a private in the Russian 1,099th Motorised Rifle Regiment after being recruited on August 10.

Scots Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton added: “I cannot see why anyone in their right mind would want to fight for a regime that has murdered and tortured its way across Ukraine.

“I hope he will face the full force of the law.”

The Foreign Office said: “We are aware of the hospitalisation of a British man in Russia and are in touch with his family.”