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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Rachael Burford

Putin’s private army Wagner Group claims body of one of missing British aid workers in Ukraine found

Russia's Wagner Group has claimed the body of one of the British humanitarian volunteers missing in Ukraine has been found.

In a statement, the private army said documents belonging to both Andrew Bagshaw, 48, and Christopher Parry, 28, were discovered on the body of one of men.

The pair were last seen on Friday before they drove to Soledar in eastern Ukraine, which has seen heavy fighting.

A spokesman for the UK’s Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the families of two British men who have gone missing in Ukraine.

“We are aware of recent reports and are in touch with the Ukrainian authorities.”

Mr Parry, who is originally from Cornwall, was working as a running coach in Cheltenham before travelling to Ukraine in March.

Mr Bagshaw, who was born in the UK but lived in New Zealand, went to the country the same month because he believed it to be the "morally right thing to do", his family said.

Both men were helping with civilian evacuations and humanitarian efforts in the war-torn Donetsk region. They were reported missing by the area’s police authorities at the weekend.

In a statement released by the British foreign office on Tuesday evening, family of Mr Parry said they are “very worried”, and described him as “an extraordinary person”.

“We are very worried and concerned about the health and whereabouts of Chris right now,” Mr Parry’s family said.

“He is an extraordinary person who is compassionate and caring and would not be dissuaded from his work in Ukraine liberating elderly and disabled people.”

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