British aid worker Chris Parry, who died in Ukraine, may have been killed by Wagner Group mercenaries in a possible “war crime”, an inquest has heard.
Mr Parry, 28, went missing with fellow British national Andrew Bagshaw near Soledar on the bitterly contested eastern frontline in January 2023.
At the time of their deaths, the UK Foreign Office insisted they were killed by an artillery shell.
But Mr Parry’s inquest in Oxford today concluded that he died of gunshot wounds to the head and torso.
His family have said there may be a “darker truth” behind his death.
The coroner did not go so far as to point blame specifically at the Wagner Group, but the inquest heard evidence that suggested their possible involvement.
Coroner Darren Salter ruled his death as an unlawful killing.
“It seems to me therefore to conclude given the circumstances, given the cause of death, that he was unlawfully killed whilst engaged in humanitarian work,” he said.
While he emphasised that it was not the purpose of an inquest to comment on such issues, he added: “What I can say is the circumstances point to a war crime.”
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