Ukraine war: Missing Briton Christopher Parry reveals how he dodged bombs while helping evacuate people from Bakhmut
One of the Britons missing in Ukraine revealed in his last interview before he vanished the kind of danger he and his fellow volunteers face on a daily basis.
Andrew Bagshaw and Christopher Parry, who are volunteers helping with civilian evacuation and humanitarian efforts were reported missing by the police in the Donetsk region on Saturday afternoon having been last seen the previous morning leaving Kramatorsk for Soledar.
Speaking just three days before he went missing, Christopher Parry, told how he had to choose between going on foot and being slow, but less visible, or going by car and being fast, but risk being spotted by drones on his way into Bakhmut to provide aid.
Ukraine war – latest: Putin warship with hypersonic missiles postures in Norwegian Sea
Speaking to journalist Arnaud De Decker he described the decision as a “toss-up” saying: “You can either go on foot, which is what some volunteers do, but that means you’re spending a lot more time there, and I feel more vulnerable because you are just walking around completely naked.
“By car, you are more of a target, but you can fly to your destination in two minutes and be back in two minutes.
“Hopefully you can just do it quick enough so that the drones don’t spot you and then you can just park it in a building and hide.
“But, yeah, a lot of volunteers won’t go any more, but there are people there who want to get out, so I’m willing to go.”
Mr Parry and Mr Bagshaw have been missing since Friday, after they were seen heading to the town of Soledar in Donetsk, widely believed to be the most dangerous part of the war-torn country at the moment.
Footage shot on a GoPro camera by Mr Parry and posted on his social media pages showed him dashing between buildings to locate elderly residents in Bakhmut to help them evacuate.
In one particularly shocking clip, massive explosions can be heard as Mr Parry leaves a building, before dashing back and corralling a crowd of elderly Ukrainians back inside.
Speaking to Sky News, the journalist who last interviewed Mr Parry, de Dekker, revealed how optimistic and happy he seemed, despite the danger he was placing himself in.
Read more
Russia steps up attacks as troops encircle major city
‘Live grenade’ removed from injured soldier’s body
UK considering sending Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine
Describing speaking to him on the western side of Bakhmut, Mr De Decker said: “I must say he was very optimistic about everything, very full of life for someone who just came back from the most dangerous part of Ukraine. He was saying ‘well, no one wants to go there, someone needs to do it, so I am willing to go there’.
“I was very amazed and inspired by his work, that’s for sure.”
Discussing the pair’s last know whereabouts, Mr De Decker added: “They were last seen, apparently on Friday, but on Saturday afternoon I received the first call from the police in Bakhmut asking me for some details and my last interactions with them. From what I understand, a lot of people, including military, are out looking for them as we speak.
“Obviously, the situation in Soledar is very dangerous so they need to be careful, but I know there are a huge amount of people actively looking for them as safely as it can be done, since Soledar is the most dangerous place in Ukraine right now, but they are doing their best, that’s for sure.”
Officers in Donetsk have said they are carrying out investigative and operational measures to establish their location.
A small salt-mining city, Soledar has seen fierce fighting as Russian forces carry out assaults – perhaps in the hopes of escalating pressure on nearby Bakhmut.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the families of two British men who have gone missing in Ukraine.”