Kyiv says it captured Ukrainian pro-Russia politician

Ukrainian authorities say they arrested Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Kremlin tycoon, in a ‘special operation’ after he fled house arrest.

Ukrainian authorities say they captured a prominent pro-Kremlin tycoon who escaped from house arrest after Russia’s invasion.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a photo online of a disheveled-looking Viktor Medvedchuk with his hands in cuffs and dressed in a Ukrainian army uniform.

Security agency chief Ivan Bakanov said agents carried out a “lightning-fast and dangerous multi-level special operation to detain” the Russia-friendly lawmaker.

“No traitor will escape punishment and all will be held accountable under the law of Ukraine,” a statement on Telegram said.

Medvedchuk, one of the richest people in Ukraine, is a hugely controversial figure for his close ties to Moscow. He is the leader of the Opposition Platform – For Life party.

The 67-year-old business tycoon counted Russian President Vladimir Putin among his personal friends and said the Kremlin leader is godfather to his youngest daughter Darya.

He was being held under house arrest since last year on treason charges over accusations of attempting to steal natural resources from Russia-annexed Crimea and of handing Ukrainian military secrets to Moscow.

Medvedchuk, who has denied any wrongdoing, reportedly fled shortly after Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Police said they did not find him at his home address on February 26, and announced he was missing a day later.

Kyiv’s crackdown on Medvedchuk sparked anger in the Kremlin, with Putin pledging at one stage to “respond” to what he called political persecution.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on Medvedchuk’s detention, telling Russian news wires “there are a lot of fakes coming from Ukraine” and “this needs to be checked first”.

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