Former Mayor of Kherson, Missing for a Year, Found in Russian Captivity

The former mayor of Kherson, Igor Kolykhaiev, who had long been considered missing, was officially recognized as a prisoner of war on September 13. This was reported by Kolykhaiev's son, Sviatoslav, to Suspilne.

"I contacted the Red Cross, and they informed me that the Russian side has included my father, Igor Kolykhaiev, in the list of prisoners. He is located in Russian territory," Sviatoslav told reporters.

The specific location of Kolykhaiev and his condition have not been disclosed.

Russian troops occupied Kherson in March 2022. Following this, Igor Kolykhaiev did not leave his workplace for three months. In June 2022, he was arrested by Russian security forces. Since then, nothing has been known about Kolykhaiev.

In November 2022, Russian troops in Ukraine were withdrawn from the right bank of the Dnipro River, leaving Kherson. In March 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Roman Mrochko as the new head of Kherson's city military administration.