Hero Brit dad kidnapped by Russians & accused of being spy while helping evacuate family as mum begs for his release

A HERO British dad has been reportedly kidnapped by Russian forces after he was accused of being a spy.

The worried mum of volunteer Paul Urey has begged for her son to be released after he was detained by Russian troops in the city of Zaporizhzhia.

According to the non-profit organisation Presidium Network, he was captured alongside another British aid worker, Dylan Healy.

The two men were on a rescue mission to save a woman and two children in Dniprorudne.

Dominik Byrne, the co-founder and chief operating officer of the charity, said that the men who were working independently as humanitarian aid volunteers were last heard from on Monday.

He said the family were later interrogated by Russian forces, who asked them about the British spies.

He added that family later escaped to Poland.

Paul's mum  Linda Urey said in a statement: "My family and I are extremely worried.

"We know my son Paul and his friend who was humanitarian aid volunteer in Ukraine has been captured by the Russians.

"He was out there on his own accord. We want everyone’s support to bring son home and pray he is safe.

"My son Paul Urey is also Type 1 Diabetic and needs his Insulin.

"We have asked the Presidium Network to help us and also the FCDO to help as well.  We pray for him and hope he is safe."

Paul has been described as a "family man with children" who decided to work in the humanitarian sector and travelled a lot.

He also worked for eight years in Afghanistan as a "civilian contractor working on back-office support."

The Presidium Network said they lost contact with Paul on Monday at 4am.

Someone claiming to be him responded to messages later but failed to use code words and provide personal information.

The charity said the messages "were not written in their natural style and failed to issue code words for security," adding that they "are verified as fake".

Three hours after the men were taken, the woman’s house was stormed by armed Russian soldiers.

They made her husband lie on the floor and asked how "she knew these British spies".

The charity added that they fear "the Russians will paint them as British Spies."

FIRST UK CASUALTY

It comes after the first UK casualty was named yesterday as British armed forces veteran Scott Sibley and another Brit volunteer is missing.

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".

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.

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.