Since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion, the Russian Federation has been systematically persecuting representatives of local governments in the temporarily occupied territories. According to the Association of Ukrainian Cities, at least 55 community leaders have been abducted since 2022.

This is a deliberate intimidation tactic aimed at suppressing resistance, destabilising communities and establishing control over the population. Numerous cases of pressure, illegal detentions, torture and the disappearance of local government officials have been documented by human rights organisations.

Those killed in this repressive campaign included Oleksii Vynnychenko, starosta of Hrebenykivka village in the Boromlia community in the Sumy region, and Yevhen Matvieiev, mayor of Dniprorudne in the Zaporizhzhia region. According to eyewitnesses, both men were murdered while in captivity.

The following community leaders are currently known to remain in Russian captivity:

• Oleksandr Babych, Mayor of Hola Prystan (Kherson region);
• Ihor Kolykhaiev, Mayor of Kherson;
• Anatolii Siryi, Starosta of Novi Borovychi starosta district of Snovsk community (Chernihiv region).

Since the early days of the invasion, the Association of Ukrainian Cities has been making every effort to secure the release of the abducted community representatives, while keeping the international community and Ukrainian authorities informed about each case of illegal detention.

Crimes against local self-government are crimes against democracy. All those guilty of these crimes must be brought to justice.