In Berdyansk, located in the Zaporizhzhya region, Vice-Mayor Mikhail Gritsai has been assassinated, according to the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

While the official statement does not specify who is responsible for the death, Ukrainian Pravda, citing an intelligence source, reports that he was shot as a result of a special operation conducted by the GUR.

The GURS official statement alleges that Gritsai “after enslaving the city in 2022, voluntarily went to cooperate with Russian invaders and received a position in the occupation administration” and simultaneously “de facto deribali state property.”

Russian authorities have not yet commented on the reported death.

Berdyansk is the second-largest city in the Zaporizhzhya region currently under Russian control.

Details Surrounding the Assassination

The assassination of Mikhail Gritsai adds to the ongoing tensions in the region. The Ukrainian intelligence agency’s involvement, as reported by Ukrainian Pravda, suggests a targeted operation against individuals collaborating with Russian forces in occupied territories.

“after enslaving the city in 2022, voluntarily went to cooperate with Russian invaders and received a position in the occupation administration”

The allegations of corruption and collaboration further complicate the situation, highlighting the challenges of governance and security in the contested Zaporizhzhya region.

The Broader Context: Conflict in Zaporizhzhya

The Zaporizhzhya region has been a focal point of conflict since the beginning of the war. The assassination of a high-ranking official like mikhail Gritsai underscores the instability and ongoing resistance in the area.