Scottish mercenary ‘loses eye fighting for Putin’ after Russian vehicle blitzed by shell in Ukraine

A SCOTS mercenary "lost an eye" after his vehicle was "hit by an artillery shell" while reportedly fighting for Vladimir Putin in Ukraine.

Ross McElvenny, 25, callsign ‘Whisky’, also sustained chest and leg wounds, according to war correspondent Yuri Kotenok.

He is now reported to be in hospital in Rostov-on-Don.

The mercenary fighter, born in Glasgow, was “seriously wounded” when his infantry fighting vehicle was hit by an artillery shell, according to the propagandist.

He had been recruited as a volunteer against Ukraine for the Russian 1099th Motorised Rifle Regiment.

“The problem is that he has no Russian citizenship,” said Kotenok, 53, a prominent military blogger and journalist with almost 400,000 followers.

“He came here on a tourist visa.

“They want to dismiss him from [military] service because of his injury.

“Without Russian citizenship, he faces expulsion and return to the UK.

“The security services are waiting for him there, having already raided and searched his parents’ home.

“He will be imprisoned for fighting for us.”

Kotenok - columnist and editor of the Donbas Information and Analytical Service - said: “The man needs help, he needs the protection of the state for which he shed his blood.

“He needs to be granted Russian citizenship.

“Probably only the President of Russia can do it promptly…

“I ask for the help of the Head of the Russian State Vladimir Putin and his Administration.”

McElvenny posted to his Russian comrades from hospital, without specifying the nature or seriousness of his wounds.

“My name is Ross, callsign Whisky, but you may know me as Scotlandetz,” he said.

He called himself a “volunteer from Scotland”.

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

“I am in positive spirits though and have plenty of friends helping me.

“I would like to extend a massive thank you to the generous volunteer networks who brought me supplies.

“I finally got my hands on some of my favourite coffee for the first time in ages.

“I would also like to thank [the] medical staff for the hard work they do.

“I also can’t forget those who send me lovely messages, people I’ve known for a while now, who continue to check in with me frequently. You guys are awesome.”

Russian pro-war Telegram channels have highlighted his UK passport in the name of Ross Daniel Thomas McElvenny.

A certificate confirming he was undergoing military service as a private in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was also published, signed by Lieutenant Colonel Yury Kuznetsov.

He was recruited on August 10, 2024.

His monthly pay in Putin’s forces is shown as 13,318 roubles - or £105.70.

Other reports say the Scottish fighter’s supporters are “making sure everything is arranged for his future life in Russia” - beyond British justice.

He appears to be from Newton Mearns, in East Renfrewshire.