The Briton was captured by Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine in late April. They accused him of being a mercenary. Ukrainian and British sources said he was an aid worker.

– I was shocked to hear the news that British aid worker Paul Urey died while in the custody of a Russian deputy in Ukraine, Truss said.

– Russia should take full responsibility for this, he added.

Experience from Afghanistan

According to Truss, Urey is in Ukraine to help the Ukrainian people. He accused the Russian government and authorities in Russian-controlled territory of Ukraine of committing atrocities, and promised that those responsible would be held accountable.

Non-governmental organizations have also described Urey, who is 45, as a volunteer aid worker. According to aid organization Presidium Network, he is a traveling aid worker, who also worked for eight years in Afghanistan.

Urey has type 1 diabetes and is insulin dependent.

Accusing the Red Cross

A representative of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine, Darja Morozova, stated on Friday that the Briton died on July 10 from chronic illness and stress. He insisted they give him all the medical help they could, and accused the International Committee of the Red Cross for refusing to give Urey the medicine he needed.

– We gave him the necessary medical treatment despite the serious charges against him, Morozov told the Tass news agency.

Urey and Dylan Healy from England were arrested in late April near the town of Zaporizjzja. Healy is also said to be in Ukraine to contribute to humanitarian work.

Pro-Russian separatists have arrested several foreigners they describe as foreign mercenaries. Among them are Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, both of whom have been sentenced to death in Donetsk.