"'Russian Abduction' Ukrainian Mayor Dies After 2 Years and 8 Months in Captivity"

The mayor of Dniprolyudne, Ukraine, who was kidnapped by Russian forces, reportedly died while in Russian captivity, local media outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported on the 4th (local time).

Mayor Matveyev, who died while detained in Russia. Yonhap News

Ivan Fedorov, governor of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, stated via Telegram that the body of Mayor Yevhen Matveyev was recently returned to Ukraine through a prisoner exchange involving the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Governor Fedorov claimed, "After Russian forces occupied Dniprolyudne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast at the end of February 2022, they kidnapped Mayor Matveyev. He was held captive and tortured by the occupying forces for two years and eight months."

He added, "During the occupation, he did not abandon the town or its residents and did everything to ensure the community’s livelihood, continuously informing the residents about the progress of the war and supporting them."

Dmytro Kuleba, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister who served until September last year, had revealed on March 13, 2022, that Mayor Matveyev was kidnapped by Russian forces. The Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties (CCL) introduced him as a figure who stood bare-handed against Russian tanks along with other residents.

On the 29th of last month, Ukraine received 502 bodies from Russia, including those of soldiers who died fighting Russian forces on the fronts of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. It is presumed that Mayor Matveyev’s body was among those handed over at that time.