The Malynovskiy district court in the Ukrainian city of Odesa said on November 8 that it had sentenced in absentia the Russia-appointed governor of Ukraine's Kherson Region, Volodymyr Saldo, to 15 years in prison on charges of high treason, collaboration with occupying Russian authorities, and justification of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The 67-year-old Ukrainian politician joined the Russian side after Moscow launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian occupying forces currently control a part of the Kherson region. In August last year, Saldo was hospitalized with some reports saying he may have been poisoned.
Editors' Picks
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.