A British aid worker held by Russian separatists in Ukraine has been killed, a family member told Sky News.
Paul Urey is believed to have passed away five days ago “of illness”, according to information his family received from the Foreign Office.
He was accused of carrying out “mercenary activities” after his arrest in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine.
Mr. Urey, 45 years old, is arrested at a checkpoint outside the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia on April 25 with Dylan Healy, 22, a British volunteer.
Daria Morozova, who holds the title of DPR’s human rights ombudsman, said on social media that Mr Urey had suffered from diabetes and respiratory, kidney and cardiovascular problems.
She said: “On our side, despite the seriousness of the alleged crime, Paul Urey was provided with appropriate medical assistance. However, given the diagnoses and stress, he passed. died on July 10.”
In response, Mr Urey’s mother, Linda Urey, said in an online post that she was “totally devastated”.
A No 10 spokesman said the Foreign Office was “urgently investigating” the reports, adding that “our thoughts are clearly with his family and friends”.
The State Department condemns the exploitation of prisoners of war after Mr. Healy and his British compatriot Andrew Hill held by Kremlin forces in eastern Ukraine.
Mr Urey’s daughters have told Sky News they are preparing for the worst after they discovered that he had been detained in April.
They said they didn’t know he was in Ukraine until they heard he was arrested.
After Mr. Urey was arrested, he was handcuffed on Russian television.
During the interview, Mr. Urey announced he wanted to visit Ukraine “to see if it’s really as bad as the news says” but doesn’t know if he’s speaking coercively.
Mrs Urey declined the interview and said while it was her son in the interview, he “didn’t act in his natural way”.
Two other Britons and a Moroccan man arrested while fighting for Ukraine were sentenced to death at the DPR for mercenary activities.
North Korea is a breakaway entity recognized only by Russia, Syria, and North Korea.
