Daniel Burke arrived in Ukraine early in the war and formed his own volunteer corps before moving on to rescue and evacuation work on the front lines. : Colin Freeman
The father of a British military volunteer who went missing in Ukraine has asked Scotland Yard to investigate his son's disappearance amid reports of a dispute with other volunteers.
Kevin Burke said his family had suffered «a nightmare» since his 36-year-old son Daniel disappeared from his apartment in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporozhye three weeks ago. He added that he himself was considering a trip to Ukraine in search of answers.
«We want the investigation to go on as long as possible and I would also like to see an investigation by the British police,» he said. said. “If anyone has information, please let me know. We want to know where Daniel is.»
Mr Burke, a former paratrooper from Manchester, arrived in Ukraine at the start of the war and formed his own volunteer military unit, the Dark Angels, before switching to rescue work and evacuation at the forefront.
He was last seen on the evening of Friday 11 August when fellow Australian volunteer Nurin «Adam» Abdelfeta dropped him off at his apartment.
According to Mr. Abdelfetah, Mr. Burke said he thought he might get food poisoning and planned to spend the evening at home.
He loaned one of his two pickup trucks to Mr. Abdelfetah for use that weekend, saying he had no plans to use it.
When Mr. Abdelfetah then tried to return the car on Sunday, he said he could neither contact Mr. Burke by phone nor find him at his apartment. Abdelfeta's comrade, former British soldier James Sutton, notified the police.
When officers searched Mr. Burke's apartment, his medical equipment, laptop and weapons were still in it, suggesting that he was not involved in any frontline operation. His father said his son was last contacted on the Friday morning of the day of his disappearance and that he «sounded good and happy.»
A source familiar with the case said: «It's very mysterious «. — if Daniel went out for a drink and, for example, got into a fight in a bar, someone would see something. And the body would probably have been found by now.”
Honey Trap fears
A prominent figure among Western military volunteers in Ukraine, Mr. Burke has given several media interviews about his work, raising fears that he may have been kidnapped or «trapped» by a group of pro-Russian supporters.
However not a single case is known when such cells actively attacked foreigners. If they succeeded, they would probably also publicize his kidnapping on the Internet.
Police are investigating CCTV footage in Zaporozhye to establish Burke's last known movements.
In the absence of any other explanation for his disappearance, speculation has arisen that he may have fallen out with other volunteers, possibly over access to funding and equipment.
Like many foreign military volunteers, Mr. Burke used his public profile to solicit online donations, sometimes reaching thousands of pounds.
Former associates say he was talking about an American millionaire who donated nearly £8,000 a month, which he used to buy specialized medical first aid kits. and two Mitsubishi L-200 pickups.
Such items are in high demand among military units on the front lines of Ukraine, where there is often a chronic lack of equipment.
Permit to carry weapons
It is understood that Mr. Burke sought to work with the 78th Hertz Ukrainian Regiment. to which both Mr. Abdelfetah and Mr. Sutton belong. In exchange for using his assets on the front line, he will receive military accreditation and a permit to carry weapons.
Former associates of Mr Burke have said fellow volunteers, including possibly Mr Abdelfetah and Mr Sutton, may be linked to his disappearance, claiming they refused to cooperate on online discussion groups. about what happened to him.
“The cops think Dan was killed and covered up,” one source said.
“When they were interrogating Adam [Mr. Abdelfetah] , his commander pulled him out of the interrogation halfway through and took him back. to the front lines where the police have no jurisdiction due to martial law. The police want to question him again, but they can't.»
Mr. Abdelfetah and Mr. Sutton told The Telegraph that they have been victims of «paranoid rumors and conspiracy theories» and are already doing everything they can to help Ukrainian police investigate.
«Proof of Purchase»
D Mr Sutton, 34, from South Wales, said he never even met Mr Burke in person, but bought one of his two Mitsubishi pickups, which then broke down.
«We're not interested in Daniel's stuff and I gave his family proof of the car purchase but also said I wouldn't argue if they wanted to dispute it — it wasn't some huge amount of money. «, he said.
«I tried to help [with the investigation], but unfortunately, it seems to have backfired on me. I just hope we get answers soon and that Dan is alive and well.”
Abdelfetah, 25, said he had to stop police questioning because he was needed for a military operation.
«I was not pulled out of the interrogation, we were done and the police wanted me to follow them all day physically, despite the fact that they have a video where we [he and Mr. Burke] were together . ”, he said.
“My commander called me back because we had an operation in the afternoon.”
Mr. Abdelfetah said that he was currently in the hospital due to injuries sustained in the operation, but assisted the police and the British Foreign Office representative «as much as I could.»
He added: «I don't think much about couch detectives at home.»
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