British mercenary Paul Urey dies in Donetsk prison

Paul Urey, who was captured in late April while trying to break through a checkpoint, died in detention, DPR Ombudsman Darya Morozova said. According to the BBC, Urey was a volunteer, who previously served as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan for eight years.

British mercenary Paul Johnson Anthony Dominique Urey was taken prisoner in April while trying to break through a checkpoint controlled by the DPR servicemen. He was kept in a penitentiary institution of the republic.

During a medical examination, Urey was diagnosed with chronic diseases, including:

• insulin-dependent diabetes,
• deterioration to the respiratory system and kidneys,
• cardiovascular diseases.

"In addition, he was in a depressed psychological state due to indifference of his homeland to his fate. Despite the severity of the alleged crime, Paul Urey was provided with appropriate medical assistance. Nevertheless, given the diagnoses and stress, he died on July 10,” Morozova said.

According to her, the International Committee of the Red Cross did not provide the necessary medications. The British authorities, Morozova said, did not react to the information about Urey's capture and ignored even a possibility of negotiating his return as part of prisoner exchange.

Paul Urey was an independent volunteer, but he coordinated his activities with one of the non-profit organizations. He was captured with his colleague Dylan Healy on April 25 as they were evacuating a family from Zaporozhye by car. Urey was driving. 

Urey was almost 40 years old. Born in Warrington, Cheshire, he spent eight years in Afghanistan as a civilian contractor. After that he lived in Lancashire.