Two Britons and a Moroccan captured by Russian forces in Ukraine have been sentenced to death, the Russian-owned RIA Novosti news agency reports.

Aiden Aslin, 28, from Nottinghamshire, Shaun Pinner, 48, from Bedfordshire, and a third man, Moroccan Saaudun Brahim, appeared in court in the Donetsk People's Republic, which is held by pro-Russian rebels.

The court is not internationally recognized, the BBC reports.

They are accused of being mercenaries. However, the families of the British claim that they were part of the Ukrainian army.

Both Britons are serving members of the Ukrainian armed forces and the UK has made it clear that they are prisoners of war entitled to immunity and should not be prosecuted for taking part in hostilities.