The mother and father of certainly one of two British males lacking in Ukraine have stated they’re apprehensive about their son’s welfare following his disappearance.
The boys have been final seen on 6 January heading to the city of Soledar, the place combating has been particularly fierce in latest days. There was no contact with the pair since they left Kramatorsk at 8am on Friday.
The 2 lacking males have been recognized as Andrew Bagshaw, 48, and Christopher Parry, 28.
Christopher Parry is among the two British males lacking in Ukraine
(by way of REUTERS)
Christine Parry, the mom of Mr Parry, a humanitarian volunteer who was serving to evacuate civilians, advised MailOnline: “It’s all very uncooked in the meanwhile. We’re simply attempting to tell relations about what’s going on.”
His father Robin Parry was quoted as saying: “We’re all very happy with Chris and the work he has been doing.”
Mr Parry, who was reportedly born in Truro, Cornwall, however later moved to Cheltenham, had beforehand spoken of evacuating folks from the entrance line. He advised Sky Information final yr: “Typically, while you see some fairly horrible issues it does stick with you.”
Mr Parry stated his mother and father have been “proud (however) very involved” when he advised them of his plans to go to Ukraine.
In a press release launched by the Overseas Workplace, his household stated: “We’re very apprehensive and anxious in regards to the well being and whereabouts of Chris proper now.
“He’s a rare one that is compassionate and caring and wouldn’t be dissuaded from his work in Ukraine liberating aged and disabled folks, which we’re very happy with.
British volunteer Christopher Parry walks subsequent to a residential constructing broken by a army strike
(Reuters)
“We, his household and accomplice, all love him very a lot and could be grateful if our privateness may very well be revered at this tough time.”
Mr Bagshaw, a resident of New Zealand, was in Ukraine to help in delivering humanitarian support, in line with New Zealand media experiences.
An announcement on behalf of his mother and father stated: “Andrew is a really clever, independently minded particular person, who went there as a volunteer to help the folks of Ukraine, believing it to be the morally proper factor to do.
“Andrew’s mother and father love him dearly and are immensely happy with all of the work he has been doing delivering meals and medicines and helping aged folks transfer from close to the battlefront of the conflict.”
Brad Hendrickson, a supply driver turned evacuation volunteer in Ukraine, advised BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme he noticed Mr Bagshaw two days earlier than he went lacking.
Requested if he has acquired used to folks going lacking, Mr Hendrickson stated: “No, it’s not one thing we get used to, it’s uncommon, and it’s a huge deal.
Smoke rises from strikes on the frontline metropolis of Soledar
(REUTERS)
“And only a day or two earlier than he went lacking, we crossed paths once more and had a pleasant little chat, handshake, catch-up – ‘how’s it going, you’re off on this route, I’m off on this route’, and so forth.
“And naturally, you simply anticipate to see your buddy round.
“I do know the highway – I used to be on there, the identical one, a day or two prior – it’s onerous to listen to that he was on a highway that clearly, in hindsight, would have been much better to see him not going towards.
“However I imply, that’s the character of the work and his willingness to get in there and do his half to assist folks.
The route the pair are imagined to take, which The Unbiased has seen, skirts the sting of the city near Russian positions and should have really entered areas engulfed by a transferring frontline, as Moscow launched a serious assault.
“We don’t know what occurred, however we fear,” stated a buddy and native volunteer, who declined to provide his identify stated yesterday. “They could not have recognized the place the Russian positions have been.”
Ukrainian members of the army fireplace an anti-aircraft weapon within the frontline metropolis of Bakhmut,
(Reuters)
One other Ukrainian volunteer within the east advised The Unbiased that search events have been launched to attempt to discover Mr Bagshaw and Mr Parry after they went lacking.
A Overseas, Commonwealth and Improvement Workplace spokesman stated: “We’re supporting the households of two British males who’ve gone lacking in Ukraine.”
It comes after 5 Britons have been launched by Russian-backed forces in Ukraine in September.
It’s understood that Aiden Aslin, Shaun Pinner, John Harding, Dylan Healy and Andrew Hill have been launched and flown again to Britain.
With extra reporting from PA