Russians accused of murdering Ukraine rebel on British soil

Russians murdered a man on British soil by torturing and burning him in his car, Ukrainian rebels have claimed.

Mikus Alps, 33, was reported missing from his home in Guernsey last week. A shotgun and human remains were subsequently found in the Latvian’s burnt out car on the island’s south coast.

He was said to have been a member of a volunteer brigade trying to expel Putin's troops from the Crimea for the last two years.

Andriy Gergert, commander of the eighth detached battalion of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, wrote on Facebook: "He was tortured and burnt in the car he used for the military needs of the battalion.

“The Sicilian Mafia is a kindergarten compared to the methods used by the Kremlin to achieve its imperialist goals. For them there is no difference whether they kill in eastern Ukraine or in centre of Europe. And they won't stop.

“I have no doubt that this was the Muscovites.”

Friends of Mr Alps said he regularly handed over used cars to Ukrainian volunteers and had been threatened for providing aid to a Ukrainian battalion in Donbass.

Patrick Rice, Guernsey's head of law enforcement, revealed that a “sombre and reflective” letter purporting to be from Mr Alps had been handed in to the station.

He added: "We are aware that Mr Alps has connections with a pro-Ukrainian and anti-Russian movement.

"Given that it is yet to be formally confirmed whether Mr Alps is alive or deceased, there is no concrete evidence at this stage linking his involvement with this movement to his car being found burnt out."

Forensic investigations will be completed later this week.