Bodies of British workers killed in Ukraine returned in prisoner swap
Bodies of two British volunteers killed in Ukraine are returned by Russia as two sides swap 179 prisoners
- Chris Parry and Andrew Bagshaw died trying to evacuate civilians in Ukraine
- Their bodies were returned to Ukraine as part of a prisoner swap with Russia
The bodies of British volunteer aid workers Chris Parry and Andrew Bagshaw have been returned to Ukraine as part of a prisoner swap with Russia.
Mr Parry, 28, and Mr Bagshaw, 47, are thought to have been killed when their car was hit by an artillery shell during the evacuation of civilians from Soledar in January.
Their return is part of a prisoner swap of 179 prisoners between Ukraine and Russia, returning 116 Ukrainians and 63 Russian prisoner of wars back to their respective countries.
Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, said: ‘We managed to return 116 of our people, defenders of Mariupol, partisans from Kherson, snipers from the Bakhmut [front] and other heroes of ours.’
He added: ‘In addition, we managed to return the bodies of the dead foreign volunteers – Christopher Matthew [Parry] and Andrew Tobias Matthew Bagshaw, as well as the body of the dead volunteer soldier […], Yevhenii Olegovich Kulyk.’
Chris Parry (L) and Andrew Bagshaw volunteered to help Ukraine’s civilian population
Bagshaw and Parry were killed during an attempted humanitarian evacuation in eastern Ukraine in January, Parry’s family has previously said.
The pair moved over to Soledar in the east of the country on 6 January 2023 to volunteer with aid efforts.
Mr Parry, a software engineer from Cornwall, first volunteered in March 2022 and became involved in helping move civilians out of towns close to conflict.
His parents said he saved the lives of over 400 people and many abandoned animals.
Mr Bagshaw’s family said the pair were trying to rescue an elderly woman when their cars were hit by a shell.
‘Andrew selflessly took many personal risks and saved many lives; we love him and are very proud indeed of what he did’, say his parents, Dame Sue and professor Phil Bagshaw.
Chris Parry, pictured, died helping civilians in Soledar, Ukraine, in January this year
Andrew Bagshaw, a British/New Zealand national who died saving civilians in Ukraine
Captured Russian service personnel near a bus following the latest exchange of prisoners of war at an unknown location in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict
The head of Russia’s Wagner Group said last month that his private mercenary forces had found the bodies of one of the aid workers.
Mr Yermak said Ukraine is continuing efforts to bring everyone home.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the released Russian servicemen included ‘sensitive category’ persons, whose exchange was made possible through the mediation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to agencies.
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