Enerhodar mayor urges authorities to rescue deputy from Russian captivity

Tuesday, 17 May 2022, 17:06

DENYS KARLOVSKYI — TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022, 17:06

IVAN SAMOIDIUK, WHO WAS ABDUCTED BY THE INVADERS IN MARCH. PHOTO: DMYTRO ORLOV

The mayor of Enerhodar Dmytro Orlov has appealed to the Ukrainian military and political leadership to rescue his first deputy, Ivan Samoidiuk, who has been held captive by the Russian invaders for 2 months.

Source: Orlov's telegram channel

Quote from Orlov: "For 60 days now, neither I nor Ivan Hnatovych's family have had any contact with him.

A man who selflessly performed his duties at a difficult time is now sitting somewhere in basements and his life depends on the whims of people with weapons.

Almost every week there are exchanges of captives, but time and time again we see that Ivan Samoidiuk remains in captivity.

I really want to believe that everything will be fine with him.

I ask all state services involved in the exchange of captives to make every effort, possible and impossible, to release him as soon as possible!".

Details: Orlov explained that Samoidiuk has health problems due to his advanced age, and therefore he should be released from captivity as soon as possible.

Background:

On 20 March, the local Enerhodar authorities reported that the Russians had abducted Samoidiuk.
Enerhodar City Council officials left for Zaporizhzhia in late April to avoid captivity.
In March, most City Council deputies resigned to prevent the occupiers from using them to make illegal decisions against Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.