Warrington aid worker held by Russian separatists in Ukraine has died

WARRINGTON aid worker Paul Urey, 45, has died while being held hostage by pro-Russia separatists.

His mother, Linda Urey, said she was “absolutely devastated” and described the separatists as “murderers”.

Posting on Facebook, she said: “I’m truly angry. I told you he was a very sick man, I told you he was diabetic, I begged on Sky News to give me my son back. Why did you let him die? I want answers. Why didn’t you release him?
I hate you all. I’m absolutely fuming, I really am. I’m angry, very very very very angry. Murderers, that’s what you are.”

Mr Urey had been detained at a checkpoint in southern Ukraine with a fellow aid worker, Dylan Healy.

The two men were later charged with “mercenary activities” by separatists in the rebel-held Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR).

Daria Morozova, DNR’s ombudsman who deals with prisoners’ rights, wrote on Telegram today that Urey died on 10 July as a result of “illness and stress”.
Already during the first medical examination, Paul Urey was diagnosed with a number of chronic diseases, including insulin-dependent diabetes, damage to the respiratory system, kidneys and a number of diseases of the cardiovascular system,” Morozova added.
On our part, despite the severity of the alleged crime, Paul Urey was provided with appropriate medical assistance.”

Linda Urey previously told the media that her son was diabetic and needed insulin.

The foreign secretary, Liz Truss, said: “I am shocked to hear reports of the death of British aid worker Paul Urey while in the custody of a Russian proxy in Ukraine. Russia must bear the full responsibility for this.”

In early May, Urey appeared on Russian state television in handcuffs. In the footage, which his mother said had been made under duress, he criticised the UK government and slammed British media coverage of the war.

Urey’s sisters previously told reporters: “We’re just about coping for now. We really don’t know anything, like if he’ll be OK there, if he’s coming home or going back to Ukraine as a prisoner swap.
We just don’t know, so we’re preparing for the worst.”