Ukraine Says It Captured Pro-Russia Politician Medvedchuk

Topline

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Security Service of Ukraine released images Tuesday of Ukrainian politician and oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk in handcuffs, claiming they’d captured the supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin weeks after he allegedly escaped from house arrest following Russia’s invasion.

Key Facts

The Ukrainian Security Service tweeted images of Medvedchuk in handcuffs and a military uniform, claiming Ukrainian operatives had “conducted a lightning-fast and dangerous multi-level special operation” to arrest him, according to a translation from Reuters.

Ukraine claimed Medvedchuk was wearing the Ukrainian military uniform “for camouflage” and had been “hiding from justice lately.”

In February, Ukrainian officials said Medvedchuk—a member of Ukraine’s parliament and a former leader of the pro-Russia For Life political party—had escaped his house arrest days after Russia invaded Ukraine, though his representatives denied this report, according to Reuters.

Key Background

Medvedchuk was initially placed on house arrest in May 2021 after Ukraine accused him of treason. The politician is one of Russia’s most prominent allies in Ukraine, and he’s been a close friend of Putin for decades: Putin is godfather to Medvedchuk’s daughter, according to the Washington Post. Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine began sanctioning the oligarch. Zelensky froze Medvedchuk’s assets in 2021, claiming he’d been financing acts of terrorism.

Tangent

For Life was one of 11 parties Zelensky suspended last month over alleged connections to Russia. Following Medvedchuk’s alleged escape from house arrest, the party removed him from leadership and condemned Russia’s invasion.

Big Number

$620 million. That was Medvedchuk’s approximate net worth in 2021, Forbes Ukraine estimated. As of last year, Medvedchuk owned three Ukrainian television stations that Zelensky blocked as part of his attempt to freeze the oligarch’s assets in February 2021, claiming the channels were spreading propaganda. Zelensky’s spokesperson Iuliia Mendel said Ukraine blocked the channels because they were being used as “one of the instruments of war against Ukraine,” and claimed the stations were financed by Russia, according to ABC News. It is unclear whether Medvedchuk still owns the stations.

Surprising Fact

Last year, the U.S. government claimed Medvedchuk was an option to replace Zelensky as a pro-Russia figurehead if the country orchestrated a coup in Ukraine.

What We Don’t Know

Last year, the U.S. government claimed Medvedchuk was an option to replace Zelensky as a pro-Russia figurehead if the country orchestrated a coup in Ukraine.

What We Don’t Know

Medvedchuk’s capture has not been independently verified.