Ukraine local deputy mayor ‘kidnapped’

The official was named as Oleksiy Shibayev, deputy mayor of Nova Sloboda district. He was accompanying an aid delivery stopped by Russian troops at a checkpoint on Friday in the Putyvl area, about 80km, 50 miles, northwest of Sumy.

The area is near the Russian border. Sumy is still in Ukrainian hands, but has been battered by surrounding Russian artillery.

“A number of other local Ukrainian officials have been taken captive by Russian occupation forces, and in some cases replaced by collaborators.”

BBC /Shakirat Sadiq