[ad_1]
Ukrainian secret services have arrested pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, Vladimir Putin’s closest and most influential ally in Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenksy posted a photo where Medvedchuk was seen tired and in handcuffs, saying he was the godfather of the Kremlin chief’s daughter. Kiev says 67-year-old Medvedchuk, the leader of the Opposition Platform party, was released from house arrest in February.
Last year, authorities sued him for treason, but he denies the allegations, while last month, Zelensky said the Opposition Platform for Life, Ukraine’s largest opposition movement, and several smaller political parties had been suspended because of ties with Moscow.
Zelensky proposed to Russia an exchange of prisoners: “You take this man of yours, you give us our sons and daughters who have been captured by the Russians,” he said.
The news of the 67-year-old’s detention came on the day the situation on the ground appears to have deteriorated in some areas of the country. Russia claims that 1,026 Ukrainian soldiers have laid down their arms and surrendered to the besieged city of Mariupol, which after resisting for weeks now appears to be very close to falling into the hands of Moscow troops.
Among the soldiers surrendered is the British Aiden Aslin, confirmed by his family. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk announced that humanitarian corridors would not be opened today to allow the evacuation of civilians as the situation is quite dangerous. She accused Russian troops of violating the ceasefire and said Moscow could not control its troops on the ground.
top channel
[ad_2]
Source link
