Pro-Russian mayor of city in eastern Ukraine who welcomed Putin’s invasion is found shot dead in the street after being kidnapped from his home
Mayor of city of Kreminna, Vlodymyr Struk was shot dead after being abducted
Adviser for Interior Minister of Ukraine announced the news on Facebook today
Anton Gerashchenko said 'in the last week he actively took a Russian position'
Struk was an 'active supporter of pro-Russian Luhansk People's Republic (LPR)'
By KAYA TERRY FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 02:23 GMT, 3 March 2022
The pro-Russian mayor of a city in eastern Ukraine who welcomed President Vladimir Putin’s invasion was 'shot dead' after being kidnapped from his home, it has been announced.
Vlodymyr Struk, of Kreminna in Luhansk, was killed on Tuesday and suffered a 'gunshot wound to the heart' after he was 'abducted from his home', according to his wife.
Announcing the news on Facebook, the adviser for Interior Minister of Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko claimed Mr Struk was a 'Luhansk People's Republic supporter' (LPR) and actively pursued a 'pro-Russian position' in the last week by 'communicating with the Russian Federation'.
The Luhansk People's Republic is a self-proclaimed breakaway state located within eastern Ukraine that was established in 2014 by pro-Russian separatists.
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He also claimed Ukraine has not been able to 'do anything with Struk for the past eight years' since Moscow-backed separatists have controlled the southeastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk - collectively known as Donbas.
Mr Gerashchenko wrote on social media: 'One traitor of Ukraine became less! Vladimir Struk, the former deputy of the Luhansk Regional Council, the head of the Kreminetsk OTG, was found killed.
'In 2014 he was an active supporter of the LPR. He then left for a part of the Luhansk region free from temporary occupation [and was] twice elected the head of Kreminetskoí OTG.
'In the last week, he actively took a Russian position, campaigning OTG deputies to communicate with the Russian Federation and the LNR - gathering deputies on this matter.
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He added: 'The whole state apparatus of Ukraine, SBU, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor's Office and courts couldn't do anything with the open separatist Strukom for eight years because he had a lot of money. Most likely support from the Russian Federation.
'But when the Russian troops approached 15km to the Kreminny, Vladimir Struk was judged by the court of the people's tribunal. Judging by all, [he was] shot by unknown patriots as a traitor to the laws of military time.
'When we soon defeat fascist Russia - we will clean and relocate all the law enforcement officers and corrupt judges who covered up such as Struk!'
Confirming the news, Twitter user 'Ukraine War News' added: 'The head of Kremenets OTG Vlodymyr Struk, who welcomed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, was found dead. He was an active supporter of the so-called "LPR". And since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he has actively called on local deputies to cooperate with Russians.'