A British aid worker held by Russian separatists in Ukraine has died, a family member has told Sky News.
Paul Urey would have died five days ago “due to illness”, according to information that his family received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He was accused of committing “mercenary activities” after being captured in the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine.
Mr. Urey, 45, was seized at a checkpoint outside the southeastern town of Zaporizhzhia on April 25 alongside Dylan Healy, 22, another British volunteer.
Daria Morozova, who holds the title of human rights ombudsman in the DPR, said on social media that Mr Urey suffered from diabetes and respiratory, kidney and cardiovascular problems.
She said: “From our side, despite the seriousness of the alleged crime, Paul Urey received appropriate medical assistance. However, given the diagnoses and the stress, he died on July 10.”
In response, Mr Urey’s mother, Linda Urey, said in an online post that she was “absolutely devastated”.
A Number 10 spokesperson said the reports of his death were “clearly alarming”, adding that “our thoughts are obviously with his family and friends”.
The Foreign Office condemned the exploitation of prisoners of war after Mr Healy and fellow Brit Andrew Hill were being held by Kremlin forces in eastern Ukraine, accused of “mercenary activities”.
Mr Urey’s daughters had told Sky News they were preparing for the worst after discovering he had been detained by Kremlin forces in April.
They said they didn’t know he was in Ukraine until they learned of his capture by the Kremlin.
After Mr. Urey’s arrest, he was shown handcuffed on Russian television.
During the interview, Mr Urey said he wanted to go to Ukraine “to see if it was as bad as the news said” but it’s unclear if he was speaking under duress.
Ms Urey denounced the interview and said that although it was her son in the interview he was ‘not acting natural’.
Two other Britons and a Moroccan captured while fighting for Ukraine have been sentenced to death in the DPR for mercenary activities.
The DPR is a breakaway entity recognized only by Russia, Syria and North Korea.
