Russian-installed politician in occupied Ukraine fired for swearing on war memorial video

The Russian-appointed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, a city in the occupied part of the Kherson region, in southern Ukraine, has been fired for swearing in a video recorded next to a war memorial, according to occupation officials.

Vladimir Saldo, the Kremlin-installed governor of the Kherson region, wrote on his Telegram channel on Tuesday that he had dismissed Vitaly Hura for displaying “unworthy behaviour” in a video he recorded next to a monument commemorating World War II heroes.

The video in question appeared online in late April. In it, Hura is heard swearing as he is about to record a message by the local war memorial congratulating locals on the anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

“Fuck me. Hello, where’s the fucking money? Where the fuck are you, motherfuckers?” Hura says on the video in fits of laughter before straightening himself up as he prepares to start the actual recording.

A number of Russian pro-war channels reported that Hura was arrested for “rehabilitation of Nazism” in late April, but the information has not been confirmed by official sources. Hura posted an apology video on his Telegram channel on 15 May, in which he said the recording in question was shot a year ago without his knowledge, while the words were said in jest.

Saldo did not clarify whether Hura remained in detention, but added that the occupation authorities had also suspended Hura’s membership of Russia’s ruling party, United Russia.