The Ukrainian mayor-elect of Kherson, a city in southern Ukraine occupied by Russian forces and their separatist allies, has been arrested, the deputy head of the occupation administration has announced. The official also says that the chosen one was “ neutralized “.
” Ex-mayor (Igor) Kolykhayev was arrested said Kirill Stremoussov, head of the military and civil administration of the Kherson region. Earlier in the day on Tuesday, an adviser to Mr. Kolykhaiev had denounced on Facebook “ pick up of the elected mayor. After his shelving in April, the city councilor had announced to stay in his city and continue his action for his constituents.
The occupation authorities had been criticizing him virulently for several days. At the same time, attacks targeting representatives of pro-Russian authorities have multiplied in recent weeks. On June 24, a pro-Russian official was killed in Kherson in the explosion of his car, an act described as “terrorist” by the Kremlin.
Russian language elements
Igor Kolykhaiev, the mayor of Kherson, was removed from local power by Russian forces in April, a few weeks after Moscow conquered this city and its eponymous region. ” He is considered a hero mayor in the Nazi community (…) This person who was doing a lot of harm to the denazification process has finally been neutralized added Mr. Stremoussov.
In the very first days of its offensive against Ukraine, Russia conquered and occupied part of southern Ukraine, notably the Kherson region, before its advance in the region was halted.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have returned to the offensive in the area to retake these lost territories. Russia and its allies consider that the Ukrainian authorities are piloted by “Nazi” leaders. The Kremlin justifies its offensive against Ukraine by the need to “denazify” the country.
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(With AFP)