As reported by Ukrainian police, two British nationals have vanished in the country’s eastern Donetsk region.
The two men, 48-year-old Andrew Bagshaw and 28-year-old Christopher Parry, were volunteering, according to the police, and were last seen on Friday travelling to the town of Soledar, where there had been frequent fights.
The Foreign Office stated that it was “supporting the families”.
According to Mr. Bagshaw’s parents, they “love him dearly” and are “immensely proud of all the work he has been doing.”
Since Friday, communication with the two men has been completely cut off.
Mr. Parry, who is from Truro in Cornwall, recently assisted residents of Bakhmut in the eastern Donbas region in their evacuation as part of his humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
He mentioned having a “drive to help, as the people here are so lovely” while speaking to BBC Cornwall over the holidays from Ukraine.
As he spent time close to the front line, he talked about the “continuous” bombardment and coming into contact with a drone “within about 10 metres of my face.”
The Cheltenham resident Mr Parry discussed how to raise money for vehicle repairs, petrol and equipment to aid evacuate civilians in his internet crowdfunding page. He also provided examples of how to assist children and families in leaving the front line.
His parents described the work he has been doing as “delivering food and medicines and assisting elderly people move from near the battlefront of the war” in a statement given to the media in New Zealand, where Mr. Bagshaw resides.
The Bakhmut police department reported receiving a missing person’s report at 17:15 local time on Saturday and issued a request for any information that would assist in locating the two males.
The men were in Kramatorsk, where there had recently been rumours of strikes.
They were last spotted travelling towards Soledar, a tiny village in the east. After a protracted conflict with Ukrainian forces, the UK’s Ministry of Defence stated on Tuesday that Russia was “likely” in charge of the majority of Soledar.
As the war enters its eleventh month, the British Foreign Office has issued an advisory against any travel to Ukraine due to recent attacks on a number of different cities.
The document states that there is a “real risk to life” and advises British nationals who are still in Ukraine to leave right away.
oing missing or being taken prisoner in Ukraine.
Five British citizens who were being held by forces with Russian support in September last year were freed after Saudi Arabia claimed to have arranged for the exchange of 10 detainees between Russia and Ukraine.
This meant that after being detained for months, Aiden Aslin, John Harding, Dylan Healy, Andrew Hill, and Shaun Pinner could all go back to their homes.