Many of them were ex-servicemen and some with little or no military experience.
News Enigma
Perspective is architect of perception TWO British aid workers have been reportedly captured by Russian forces after joining Ukraine’s fight against Putin.
The two men who were on a rescue mission to save a family in Zaporizhzhia have been accused of being spies.
Non-profit organisation Presidium Network said that volunteers Paul Urey and Dylan Heal were detained by Russian troops at a checkpoint south of Zaporizhzhia in south-eastern Ukraine.
It comes after the first UK casualty was named yesterday as British armed forces veteran Scott Sibley and another Brit volunteer is missing.
Dominik Byrne, the co-founder and chief operating officer of the Presidium Network, said that the men who were working independently as humanitarian aid volunteers were last heard from on Monday.
Byrne said they were taken while trying to carry out an independent evacuation in Dniprorudne, near the city of Zaporizhzhia.
He said the family that the two men had been trying to evacuate later were interrogated by Russian forces, who asked them about the British spies.
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He added that the family later escaped to Poland.
Trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan told Sky News: “I know that the Foreign Office will be working very closely with both the authorities and families to understand [what is happening] and support them.
“That will be ongoing at pace in the days ahead. It’s a tragic story and our hearts go out to the families involved.”
She added that Putin’s invasion “continues to be completely outrageous” and UK and its allies are “doing all they can in their fight to drive Putin out”.
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Tributes were paid yesterday to dad Scott Sibley, who was killed in Ukraine while reportedly fighting Russian troops.
His former comrades described him as “the bravest person” they knew.
A second Brit volunteer is missing in Ukraine after travelling to the warzone following the Russian invasion.
“We can confirm that a British national has been killed in Ukraine and are supporting their family,” a Foreign, Development and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said about the second man: “We are aware of a British national who is missing in Ukraine and are supporting their family. We are urgently seeking further information.”
No further details about the British nationals have been released by the Foreign Office.
His loving wife Victoria posted: “We are overwhelmed with everyone’s kind messages and beautiful memories that have been shared with us so far.”
Sibley, who was pictured with the Ukrainian flag on his uniform appears to have been a former member of the Commando Logistic Support Squadron.
They posted on social media: “This week the Sqn has lost a former serving soldier.
“A man that showed Commando spirit until the end. RIP. Scott Sibley”
Devastated friends and family paid tribute to a “beautiful guy inside and out”.
His friend Alex Darwin, who served with him, wrote on a Facebook post: “I’m in complete disbelief.
“What a pleasure to have served alongside you, to know you & to of experienced your kind nature.
“You were there for me, & I will forever be grateful.
“One hell of a beautiful guy, inside & out! Stand down, Scott Sibley.”
Another friend shared: “Scott Sibley you were a good friend, and funny as hell.
“You will be missed by everyone who ever met you that’s for sure.
“Until the big re-org in the sky brother. Stand down soldier, your duty is over. RIP, It’s our stag now.”
Two Gofundme pages have been set up to help his family cover funeral costs.
One of them, set up by Craig Gant reads: “Scott was a son, father, brother and uncle.
“To me, he was a friend like no other and the bravest person I’ve had the pleasure to have known, he was as good as a brother to me.
You will be missed by everyone who ever met you that’s for sure
Friend, Scott Sibley
“His life may have been cut short but he lived to the full and did things the Sibs way, right until the end.”
The second Gofundme page reads: “I know only a couple of us got to meet sibs outside of our community and many had arranged to meet him or couldn’t due to long distance, however each of us that had the pleasure of knowing sibs were affected by his contagious laugh and ability to cheer us up! (Or wind us up haha)
“We all have memories with him and he has helped us in different ways, if you would like to write anything with your donation feel free to do that his family can see how much he was loved by us all!
“Rest in peace Sibs we will never forget you”
The news follows the announcement that around 8,000 British troops are set to take part in exercises across Eastern Europe in a bid to combat Russian aggression.
This would be one of the largest British deployments since the Cold War.
Dozens of tanks will be deployed, from Finland in the north to North Macedonia in the south, in response to the ongoing military crisis in Ukraine.
The Queen’s Royal Hussars are set to be embedded into an armoured brigade in Finland, which shares an 830-mile land border with Russia.
Exercises will also take place alongside American troops in Poland.
Manoeuvers are scheduled to take place at least until June.
The Brit forces will be joined by tens of thousands of Nato and Joint Expeditionary Force troops.
This action had already been planned, but the Ministry of Defence said it had been enhanced in the wake of the war in Ukraine.
Commander Field Army Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddisse said: “The UK makes a significant contribution to the defence of Europe and the deterrence of Russian aggression.
“The British Army’s series of exercises is fundamental to both.”
He added: “The scale of the deployment, coupled with the professionalism, training and agility of the British Army, will deter aggression at a scale not seen in Europe this century.”
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “The security of Europe has never been more important.
“These exercises will see our troops join forces with allies and partners across Nato and the Joint Expeditionary Force in a show of solidarity and strength in one of the largest shared deployments since the Cold War.”
It comes as Brit volunteers Shaun Pinner, 48, and Aiden Aslin, 28, remain captured in Mariupol.
Ex-squaddie Pinner was paraded by Russian state media in a chilling clip captioned: “Another mercenary was caught in Mariupol.
“Shaun Pinner is an English mercenary. He says that he no longer needs the war and he wants to go home. He won’t make it home.
“Captured Ukrainian soldiers testify about the atrocities of foreign mercenaries. And after the trial, they face the death penalty.”
Pictures of Aslin showing bruises and cuts on him, were shared online.
A good pal of Aslin has claimed that the soldier is “still alive” but Putin’s cronies have targeted his family trying to get them to “publicly cry and demand that he be swapped with the top traitor in Ukraine, Victor Medvedchuk.”
At the start of the invasion, a number of brave British soldiers joined Ukraine in the fight against Putin.
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Many of them were ex-servicemen and some with little or no military experience.
The UK government urged Brits not to take up arms on behalf of Kyiv saying they are putting the safety of everyone back home at risk.
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Category: News, World News, Army, Ukraine war
