Zelenskyy reveals the number of mayors in Russian captivity

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that at least six mayors of Ukrainian cities and community leaders are currently held captive by Russia.

The Head of State shared this during a speech at a conference dedicated to human rights work.

Zelenskyy urged the international community to make every effort to free Ukrainians from captivity.

"Currently, at least six mayors and community leaders are in Russian captivity. They are among thousands of Ukrainians who have done nothing wrong but have been held in captivity for years - not only since 2022 but since 2014. We are doing everything possible to bring them back," the President stated.

He further reported that 3,767 Ukrainians have already been freed from Russian captivity. The state is using mediators and exploring various negotiation, political, and legal avenues to achieve this.

Zelenskyy criticized the global community for insufficient efforts to return Ukrainian citizens from Russian captivity:

"We believe that the crime is not only that Russia holds so many of our people captive and tortures them but also that many in the world still fail to make every effort to stop this crime, return our people, and punish Russia for everything its war has brought."

The President also reminded of the recent death of Evhen Matveyev, the mayor of the occupied city of Dniprorudne, who died in Russian captivity. He was captured in March 2022.

Zelenskyy expressed disappointment at the inadequate global response to Russia's treatment of Ukrainian captives:

"There are still few voices in the world speaking about Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. There is almost no reaction to what Russian occupation has turned our lands, our territories, which are temporarily occupied," Zelenskyy emphasized.

In his view, even the most egregious crimes committed by Russia during the war are gradually being forgotten by many globally, including in Europe:

"They are forgotten specifically at the political level, among those who could make decisions or take action to correct everything," the President clarified.

He highlighted that Ukraine continued to actually struggle for the creation of a special tribunal against Russia.

Zelenskyy also criticized the insufficient assistance from the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross in protecting and returning Ukrainian captives from Russia.

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