Russian troops shoot Ukrainian conductor in Kherson for refusing to cooperate with occupation ‘officials’

Russian forces have shot Ukrainian conductor Yuriy Kerpatenko for refusing to perform at a celebratory concert in honour of International Music Day on 1 October planned by the Russia-installed “government” of Ukraine’s Kherson region, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Suspilne news outlet report, citing Kerpatenko’s friend.

Kerpatenko worked at the Kherson Regional Philharmonic and the Mykola Kulish Kherson Music and Drama Theatre. He was also the chief conductor of the Hylea chamber orchestra.

According to Kherson.online news outlet, the occupation “administration” planned to hold a concert with the participation of Hylea to demonstrate the so-called “return to peaceful life” in Kherson. After Kerpatenko refused to participate in the concert, the Russian military came to his home. According to Terentiy Shevchenko, the conductor’s colleague and friend, the Russian troops shot Kerpatenko through the door of his flat after he refused to open it.