The Ukrainian National Police has confirmed the disappearance last weekend of two British volunteers in Soledar, north of the town of Bajmut and adjacent to Bajmutske, a town that the Russian Armed Forces have claimed this Monday to have conquered.
According to the Ukrainian Police, the last known news about Andrew Bagshaw and Christopher Perry is from January 6, when they started their way from Kramatorsk to Soledar, both localities of the Donetsk region.
Following this, the Bajmut Police confirmed the disappearance of the two British citizens, aged 28 and 48, the following day. Authorities in the region are now engaged in search and rescue efforts, according to Ukrinform agency.
The British authorities encouraged the population during the early stages of the war to join the squads for foreigners promoted by the Ukrainian Army. However, the Minister of Defense, Ben Wallace, had to come forward to warn that the situation in Ukraine was «very dangerous».
The UK has been one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters in the war effort, especially under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who repeatedly visited Kiev and had direct contact with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Now London appears to be considering supplying British-made Challenger 2 tanks for the first time since the outbreak of the war, a source familiar with the matter told Sky News television.
With this decision, the UK would be trying to encourage the rest of the allies and members of the Atlantic Alliance to supply military aid to Ukraine, and thus satisfy the demands of Kiev, which in recent days has requested reinforcements for its artillery capabilities.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
