Aid worker captured with Paul Urey in Ukraine ‘returns to UK’

Dylan Healy was detained by Russian separatists along with Mr Urey in April while driving to help a woman and two children near a checkpoint south of the city of Zaporizhzhia.

The Culcheth man, aged 45, died in captivity in July, according to the human rights ombudsperson for the Moscow-supported leadership in Donetsk, Daria Morozova.

She branded Mr Urey a ‘mercenary’, for which a Moscow prosecutor said the maximum penalty is the death sentence, and claimed he died in captivity of chronic illnesses and stress.

“From our side, he was given the necessary medical assistance despite the grave crimes he committed,” she added.

However, Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said earlier this month that Mr Urey’s body had been returned ‘with signs of possible unspeakable torture’.

Mr Healey was one of five Britons captured in Ukraine by pro-Russian forces to have returned to the UK after being released yesterday, Wednesday.

It is understood that John Harding, Andrew Hill, Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin were also set free.

Prime Minister Liz Truss said that their release had been secured by working with Ukrainian authorities and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, but the identities of the men were not initially confirmed.

Non-profit organisation the Presidium Network, which has been supporting the family of Mr Healy, told the BBC today, Thursday, that all five were ‘back safely in the UK’.

Dominik Byrne, co-founder of the organisation, which has been providing aid to Kyiv, said the men were ‘looking forward to normality with their families after this horrific ordeal’.

Paul Urey, from Culcheth, was captured by the Russian military in Ukraine (Image:PA)

However, he added: “I am completely relieved and so pleased that the five are back safely.

“But also really pleased that the other international people were released yesterday, as well as all the Ukrainians that were released.

“We are all very pleased and happy that they are back, but I am still thinking of families such as Paul Urey’s – unfortunately Paul died in captivity.”

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “The release brings to an end many months of uncertainty and suffering, including the threat of the death penalty, for them and their families, at the hands of Russia.

“Tragically, that was not the case for one of those detained, and our thoughts remain with the family of Paul Urey.”

Before his death, video also emerged on Russian state TV on May 4 showing an interview with the Warrington man, who was asked questions while in handcuffs as to why he was in Ukraine.

Liz Truss, who was Foreign Secretary at the time, said she was ‘shocked’ by reports of the death of Mr Urey, who had type one diabetes and required insulin shots.

“Russia must bear the full responsibility for this,” she said in a statement.

“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.”