**Mayor’s Body Returned to Ukraine, Signs of Violent Death**
The body of Yevhen Matveiev, the mayor of Dniprorudne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, was returned to Ukraine in November with signs of violent death. This comes after he was held captive by Russian forces for over two years.
**Russian Abductions on the Rise**
Russian forces have been abducting Ukrainian civilians, officials, and military personnel during their ongoing invasion. These captives are often subjected to severe physical and psychological torture in makeshift detention centers and former prisons.
**Investigation Launched into Mayor’s Death**
Ukraine’s law enforcement has launched a criminal investigation into Matveiev’s death under charges of war crimes by Russian troops. The maximum punishment is life imprisonment. A forensic medical examination is ongoing, and the results are expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding his death.
**Background**
Matveiev was abducted by Russian forces in March 2022 while trying to help miners who were being detained at a checkpoint. He remained captive for two years and eight months before his body was returned to Ukraine in November.
**Current Situation**
At least six Ukrainian mayors and community heads remain in Russian captivity, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The international community is calling on Russia to release these individuals and return their bodies.
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