Former Kherson Mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko Released from Russian Captivity
Former Kherson Mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko has been released from Russian captivity, according to a source in the Office of the President of Ukraine, reports 24brussels.
The Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War has also confirmed this information. Mykolaienko, who faced threats after declining offers to cooperate with Russian forces, was abducted by soldiers on April 18, 2022. He was reportedly held in Correctional Colony No. 7 in the Vladimir region of Russia, following his initial detention in occupied Crimea.
Media reports indicate that Mykolaienko received multiple proposals from collaborator Kyrylo Stremousov to align with Russian interests but refused each one. This refusal led to escalating threats against him. In May 2025, it was announced that he had been included in prisoner exchange lists; however, he opted to forgo his release to prioritize a seriously ill captive instead. As a result, he was subsequently removed from all exchange lists.
Mykolaienko served as the mayor of Kherson from 2014 to 2020, actively participating in the local Euromaidan protests and publicly opposing pro-Russian provocations in the city.
In addition, today marked the return of military personnel and eight civilian Ukrainians, including journalists Mark Kalush and Dmytro Khyliuk, from captivity.
