Former mayor of Kherson Volodymyr Mykolayenko, who was kidnapped by the occupiers in April 2022, has been released from Russian captivity.
This was reported by Suspilne Kherson, citing Mykolayenko’s niece, Hanna Korshun-Samchuk.
The former mayor was released during a 146-for-146 exchange.
Mykolaienko’s niece, Hanna Korshun-Samchuk, confirmed the information about his release to Suspilne. This happened on 24 August.
According to her, Volodymyr Mykolayenko has already spoken to his wife, who he called. The first thing the former head of Kherson said was ‘Glory to Ukraine.’ She added that they had not spoken personally and that she was waiting for permission to do so.
“It was just a very short message that he had been released on Ukrainian territory, and that was all. Vladimir Vasilyevich’s wife called me and my sister, and all the relatives have already been told,” said the niece of the former mayor released from captivity.
The Russian Ministry of Defence reported the exchange of 146 for 146 at around 3 p.m. on Sunday. The Ukrainian side has not yet confirmed the exchange.
With the start of the Russian occupation, Mykolaienko joined the ranks of the territorial defence. He subsequently began to receive offers of cooperation directly from the now-eliminated collaborator Kirill Stremousov, but he did not accept any of them. After that, the offers turned into threats, as Mykolaienko personally told the publication.
The former mayor of Kherson was kidnapped by Russian troops on 18 April 2022. At first, he was held in Kherson, as evidenced by propaganda videos in which the former mayor ‘participated.’ After that, he was most likely taken to Crimea or Russia. By the end of November 2022, nothing was known about his fate.
In May 2025, information emerged that the former mayor of Kherson had refused to be exchanged for a seriously ill prisoner. This happened back in 2022. After his refusal, the Russian side no longer included him in the exchange lists.
Volodymyr Mykolayenko headed Kherson from 2014 to 2020.