Returned after three years of captivity: ex-mayor of Kherson Mykolaienko released from captivity

As part of the 146-for-146 prisoner exchange, Ukraine has returned former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko from Russian captivity.

This was reported by sources in the President's Office and confirmed by his family, «MOST» writes.

In 2022, he even refused to be exchanged in favour of a seriously ill prisoner. Since then, he has not been included in the release lists.

Abduction of former mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko

Volodymyr Mykolaienko was abducted on 18 April 2022. In July, it became known that he had refused to cooperate with collaborator Kirill Stremousov.

It should be noted that Volodymyr Mykolayenko was the mayor of Kherson from 2014 to 2020. At that time, he opposed the forces that have «pro-Russian roots». And his assistant in this was a well-known Kherson activist Kateryna Handziuk, who worked as an advisor to the mayor.

On 3 May, he was featured in a propaganda story on a Russian TV channel. The Russian journalist tried to force Mykolaienko to recognise UPA commander-in-chief Roman Shukhevych as a Nazi.

Volodymyr Mykolaienko was the head of Kherson from 2014 to 2020. He was an active participant in the local Euromaidan and opposed pro-Russian provocations in the city.