The daughters of a British aid worker who reportedly died after being captured by Russian forces in Ukraine claim they've been told to stump up £10,000 to bring their dad's body home.
Paul Urey, 45, was captured along with another worker on April 25 at a checkpoint south of the city of Zaporizhzhia in south-eastern Ukraine. Russian-backed forces later claimed Mr Urey, who they labelled as British "mercenary", had died in captivity on July 15.
His daughters, Chelsea, 20, and Courtney Coman, 17, from Audenshaw, say were informed of their dad's tragic death by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
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Speaking to the M.E.N, Chelsea said her dad's body is yet to be released by Russian forces in the Donetsk region but claim they've been quoted up to £10,000 by the FCDO to repatriate their father if and when his body is freed.
Daria Morozova, the human rights ombudsperson for the Moscow-backed separatist leadership, said Mr Urey had died of chronic illness and stress. "From our side, he was given the necessary medical assistance despite the grave crimes he committed," she added.
The Presidium Network, a non-profit group, said in April that Mr Urey and Dylan Healey, from Cambridgeshire, travelled to Ukraine of their own accord. They were not working for the Presidium Network, which helps to get aid into Kyiv.
The organisation said the pair were driving to help a woman and two children to evacuate when they went missing. Mr Urey, 45, was charged with "mercenary activities" by investigators in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), recognised only by Russia and Syria, in eastern Ukraine before his death, the Mirror reports.
Russian ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, was summoned to the Foreign Office to face questioning over what happened to Mr Urey, as The Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, demanded Moscow bears the 'full responsibility ' for his death.
Chelsea said she and her sister were not aware that their dad had travelled to Ukraine, and only discovered he had been captured from news reports. Mr Urey is originally from Warrington but had been living in Preston before he flew to the country.
Speaking after his initial capture, his mother Linda Urey said that she had "begged" her son not to return to Ukraine after he'd come home for leave. She said her son had type 1 diabetes and needed regular insulin. Following reports of his death, she told Sky News she was "absolutely devastated."
Russia claims Urey had been suffering from diabetes and respiratory, kidney and cardiovascular issues but that they gave him "appropriate medical assistance." They continued: "However, given the diagnoses and stress, he passed away."
Courtney and Chelsea have now launched a Gofundme page to help try and raise the funds needed to bring their father's body back to the UK. They understand his body is still in the hold of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) in the Donbas region. You can donate here.
"The Russians have not agreed to release his body yet but if and when they do we have to raise the money to bring him home ourselves," Chelsea said. "We were told by the FCDO that to bring his body back would cost between £8,000 to £10,000.
"I am only 20 and my sister is 17 and still at college. We have no source of income that could pay near enough that amount. I am raising a daughter as well so it’s a lot of money to come up with."
Chelsea says she and her family have also contacted the Russian embassy in London in the hope they might assist with negotiating a deal to have their dad's body released.
"My only wish is to bring my father home and give him a burial and send off here in the UK with people who love him and celebrate his life," she said. "Any donations no matter how small or large it may be will be much appreciated by me and my fathers family."
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.
"Paul Urey was captured while undertaking humanitarian work. He was in Ukraine to try and help the Ukrainian people in the face of the unprovoked Russian invasion. The Russian government and its proxies are continuing to commit atrocities. Those responsible will be held to accountable. My thoughts are with Mr Urey’s family and friends at this horrendous time."
You can donate to the family's fundraising page here.
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