Reside new updates: Biden calls Putin’s actions in Ukraine ‘genocide’ for first time

Volodymyr Zelensky late on Tuesday revealed that Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Russia oligarch and shut buddy of Vladimir Putin, had been detained after fleeing home arrest throughout Russia’s invasion of the nation.

“A particular operation was carried out due to the SBU [state security service,]” Ukraine’s president stated in a Telegram publish.

The publish included {a photograph} of Medvedchuk sitting in a chair, sporting a Ukrainian military camouflage uniform, along with his palms cuffed.

“Properly achieved! Particulars later. Glory to Ukraine!,” Zelensky stated within the publish.

The SBU, which posted one other picture of Medvedchuk in handcuffs, stated in a press release:

“You is usually a pro-Russian politician and work for the aggressor state for years. You could be hiding from justice currently. You possibly can even put on a Ukrainian navy uniform for camouflage . . . However will it aid you escape punishment? In no way! Shackles are ready for you. Simply as for a similar form of traitors of Ukraine as you!”

Medvedchuk was detained in a “lightning-fast and harmful multilevel particular operation”, SBU chief Ivan Bakanov stated within the assertion, however the particulars of how he fled and the place he was detained weren’t instantly clear.

A years-long private buddy of Putin who has stated Russia’s president is godfather to considered one of his youngsters, Medvedchuk was arrested final yr on treason expenses, together with of divulging navy secrets and techniques to Moscow.

A member in Ukraine’s parliament, Medvedchuk was sanctioned by the US for his malign pro-Russian affect in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and fomented a proxy separatist battle within the japanese Donbas area.

Medvedchuk’s pro-Russian tv channels had been shut down by Zelensky’s administration.