Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s answer to a media question about London's reaction to a British mercenary’s death in the DPR

Question: What can you tell us about London's reaction to the death of a British mercenary in the DPR?

Maria Zakharova: London’s uncalled for focus on politicising and escalating the situation around British citizen Paul Urey, who died in the Donetsk People's Republic, has come to our attention. According to the information provided by the DPR authorities, he was in no way a civilian, but a career serviceman who had previously served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, and after that led military operations and trained military personnel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In April 2022, Paul Urey was detained by the DPR people's militia when trying to break through a checkpoint.

From the outset, we repeatedly indicated to the British that Paul Urey’s future should be discussed with the competent authorities in the DPR, which is a sovereign and independent state. However, London ignored the opportunity to hold talks in order to bring their man back as part of a prisoner exchange procedure.

Paul Urey had a number of chronic diseases, including insulin dependent diabetes. However, the UK did not bother to provide medical supplies for him through the ICRC. Nevertheless, the necessary medical assistance was provided to him by the Donetsk authorities.

As we now know from the DPR ombudsman, on July 10, Paul Urey succumbed to severe ailments and stress caused by captivity, and the British authorities’ unwillingness to tend to his needs.

Now London is trying to take advantage of this human tragedy to blow up a media scandal and to gain favour in the Conservative Party leadership election. The arguments provided by politicians like Elizabeth Truss with regard to non-recognition of the people's republics are nothing more than excuses showing how indifferent the British government is to the fate of its compatriots whom it is shamelessly using in its own interests.

Comments are unnecessary. As a reminder, despite Russia’s requests, the British failed to provide any information about a number of our fellow citizens dying in the UK and continue to provide shelter to dozens of Russians who had run-ins with the law at home.

The extreme unprofessionalism of the British Foreign Service is the problem. It has turned into a kind of travel agency specialising in tank riding tours and has forgotten the basics of diplomacy.