Two British nationals who went missing in Ukraine earlier this month were killed while attempting a “humanitarian evacuation,” their family members have said.
Andrew Bagshaw, 47, and Christopher Parry, 28, were last seen on Jan. 6 while heading to the town of Soledar in the eastern Donetsk region of the country, where heavy fighting was reported.
A few days later, the Russian military contractor Wagner Group said that one of the two Britons had been found dead.
On Jan. 24, Parry’s family confirmed that both men had been killed, in a statement released through the UK Foreign Office.
‘Selfless Determination’
The statement from Parry’s family said: “It is with great sadness we have to announce that our beloved Chrissy has been killed along with his colleague Andrew Bagshaw whilst attempting a humanitarian evacuation from Soledar, eastern Ukraine. His selfless determination in helping the old, young and disadvantaged there has made us and his larger family extremely proud.”They added: “He found himself drawn to Ukraine in March in its darkest hour at the start of the Russian invasion and helped those most in need, saving over 400 lives plus many abandoned animals.
“It is impossible to put into words how much he will be missed but he will forever be in our hearts. We feel so privileged that he chose our family to be part of.”
Parry, who was reportedly born in Truro, Cornwall, but later moved to Cheltenham, had previously spoken of evacuating people from the front line.
Cherilyn Mackrory, the Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth, said: “My deepest condolences to the family of my constituent Christopher Parry, whose death in Ukraine has been confirmed by the Foreign Office.
‘Very Proud’
Bagshaw, a resident of New Zealand, was in Ukraine to assist in delivering humanitarian aid, according to New Zealand media reports.A statement from his parents, Dame Sue and Professor Phil Bagshaw, said: “He and a colleague, Chris Parry, were attempting to rescue an elderly woman from Soledar, in an area of intense military action, when their car was hit by an artillery shell.
“Andrew selflessly took many personal risks and saved many lives; we love him and are very proud indeed of what he did.”
According to his family, Bagshaw was a scientific researcher in genetics but had been working as a volunteer aid worker in Ukraine since last April.
Britons Helping Ukraine
A number of British veterans and Britons without combat experience have travelled to Ukraine to join the resistance against the Russian invasion. A small number of serving British personnel are also believed to have gone absent without leave to travel to the war-torn country.In addition, some British citizens are reportedly working as humanitarian aid workers and medics in the war zone.
Four of those—Aiden Aslin, John Harding, Andrew Hill, and Shaun Pinner—had been captured while fighting for the Ukrainian armed forces. The other—Dylan Healy—had been volunteering in Ukraine as an aid worker.
Another British aid worker—Paul Urey—reportedly died in detention in July after being captured by pro-Russian separatists.
The Ukrainian government said in early September that Urey’s body, which had been returned, had “signs of possible unspeakable torture.”
On Aug. 24, British national Craig Mackintosh was reportedly killed while volunteering as a medic in Ukraine.
In April, British veteran Scott Sibley was reportedly killed in Ukraine while fighting against Russian forces.
Meanwhile, at least five other Americans are known to have died fighting in Ukraine, according to State Department statements and reports from individual families.
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