Ukraine aid worker Chris Parry died unlawfully, inquest hears

Christopher Parry was killed in eastern Ukraine last year

A humanitarian worker who evacuated civilians from the Ukraine conflict was unlawfully killed, a coroner has found.

Christopher Parry, 28, died in January 2023 from gunshot wounds to the head and torso, an inquest heard.

Coroner Darren Salter cited "some evidence" of involvement of the Wagner Group - a Russian-state funded private military company.

The inquest also heard about a speech Mr Parry made for his parents' anniversary before leaving for Ukraine.

His mother Christine Parry said in a statement: "He thanked us for being such great parents.

"It was totally out of character," she said. "Looking back I think he probably knew he wouldn't be back".

Christine Parry's statement was read out at the inquest

Mr Parry, from Truro, died alongside fellow volunteer Andrew Bagshaw, the inquest heard.

In statements read out by the coroner, Mr Parry's colleagues described his intention to evacuate a civilian from the Soledar region of Ukraine on 6 January 2023.

Mr Parry's girlfriend Olha Volodymyrivna Khomenko said after receiving a message from her boyfriend that morning, she did not hear from him again.

His body was later recovered and returned to the UK following an initial post-mortem examination in Ukraine.

Mr Salter, Her Majesty's Coroner for Oxfordshire, concluded Mr Parry "was unlawfully killed while engaged in humanitarian work in Ukraine" on or around 7 January 2023 in the Soledar region of Ukraine.

Mr Salter said there were "evidential difficulties" due to the lack of eye witness accounts.

Andrew Bagshaw, pictured left, and Christopher Parry helped those most in need, according to their families

But he referred to "some evidence" of the involvement of the Wagner Group - a Russian-state funded private military company.

This included messages sent on the mobile app Telegram from Mr Bagshaw's phone which "appeared to be in the hands of someone from the Wagner group".

Mr Salter said: "The loss of Chris and Andrew in these circumstance is very sad indeed, given that they were engaged in, and had been for some time, humanitarian work.

"Quite a large part of it appears to have involved rescuing people from danger areas so there was significant risk."

He said "evidence available" indicated they were engaged in humanitarian work when they went missing on 6 January.

Forensic dental officer Surgeon Commander Michael Bamber said in a statement Mr Parry's identity had been confirmed through dental records.

Dr Russell Delaney, consultant forensic pathologist at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, outlined in a statement Mr Parry's cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head and torso.

Noting "limitations" caused by the passage of time and a previous post-mortem in Ukraine, he said there was "no indication of discharge of a weapon at close or contact range".

Evidence provided by police in Ukraine included a Mercedes with "fully shattered windows", Mr Salter said.

Christine Parry said in a statement that following a minor operation in 2022, her son had returned from Cheltenham to their Truro home to recuperate.

Mr Parry's family said they would continue his humanitarian work in Ukraine

There, he "spent a lot of time watching the news", including the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He flew to Warsaw in Poland, she said, before starting humanitarian work in Ukraine.

Mr Parry confided in his sister Kate about his work, the inquest heard, but told his parents he was just "helping with logistics".

On a visit home in June 2022, Mr Parry "played down the dangers" his mother said.

During his last visit in October 2022, he made a speech at a party to celebrate his sister's birthday and parents' anniversary, she said.

He thanked his parents "for all their support", Mrs Parry said, who also recalled a conversation with her son on 5 January who phoned to say he was missing them.

He went missing the following day.

Describing the family's "devastation", Christine Parry said in a statement they would "always remember" their son "and include him in our lives".

She spoke also of his compassion and hatred of injustice, recalling a family holiday to the United States when Mr Parry "gave all his pocket money to homeless people".

Citing his work to evacuate "over 400" people, she added: "We as his family are so proud of him and what he achieved."

She said her son had called the night before he went missing, "checking up" on his family.

"We will learn to live with the pain but never ever forget him," she said, describing the family's intention to "continue his humanitarian work" in Ukraine.

"Ukraine will be in our hearts forever", she added.

Mr Salter noted his inquiry had been assisted by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and other agencies including the police and Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine.