Pro-Russian mayor in eastern Ukraine who welcomed Putin's invasion is found shot dead in the street

[Mr. Sparkle]

The pro-Russian mayor of a city in eastern Ukraine who welcomed President Vladimir Putin’s invasion was 'shot dead' after being kidnapped from his home, it has been announced. Vlodymyr Struk, of Kreminna in Luhansk, was killed on Tuesday and suffered a 'gunshot wound to the heart' after he was 'abducted from his home', according to his wife.

Announcing the news on Facebook, the adviser for Interior Minister of Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko claimed Mr Struk was a 'Luhansk People's Republic supporter' (LPR) and actively pursued a 'pro-Russian position' in the last week by 'communicating with the Russian Federation'. The Luhansk People's Republic is a self-proclaimed breakaway state located within eastern Ukraine that was established in 2014 by pro-Russian separatists.

The adviser for Interior Minister of Ukraine alleged that Mr Struk 'was judged by the court of the people's tribunal' and called him a 'traitor'. He also claimed Ukraine has not been able to 'do anything with Struk for the past eight years' since Moscow-backed separatists have controlled the southeastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk - collectively known as Donbas. Mr Gerashchenko wrote on social media: 'One traitor of Ukraine became less! Vladimir Struk, the former deputy of the Luhansk Regional Council, the head of the Kreminetsk OTG, was found killed. 'On March 1 [there] was a statement from his wife that he was kidnapped [from persons] unknown in camouflage form. The cause of death is a fiery injury to the heart area.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10571663/Pro-Russian-mayor-city-eastern-Ukraine-shot-dead-kidnapped-home.html

[secondwind]

1. And...... he was mayor...

I have to admit this is really starting to frazzle my nerves.................

Maybe I need to take a break for a couple of days....

Peace,

[DFW]

2. As so often happens in such places, rulers of "people's republics" often forget who "the people" are

Sometimes, "the people" aren't always in agreement with what is imposed upon them from without. In a country in the middle of a civil war, it very risky to be an official associated with an occupying power if a good portion of "the people" don't want you there.

[SheltieLover]

15. Putin likely installed him.

Supporting putin makes him the enemy!

[Samrob]

125. My only comment is short. NEXT!

[Scrivener7]

4. It's a fucking war. The Ukrainians didn't choose it. This is what happens in wars.

The whole war is a bad thing. Vlad shouldn't have started it.

Now there is no way for people to know if the avowed pro-Russians among them are going to sabotage them, and they need to be dealt with.

And who do you think has the high ground now? Vlad?

[Scrivener7]

8. No. I'm really not.

And your post was not so nuanced that it requires multiple readings.

Welcome to DU.

[Scrivener7]

11. In fact, no I'm not. Have a nice day.

[denbot]

41. Anybody who would compare killing an invaders quisling mayor to vigilantism..

Would call an insurrection, “legitimate political discourse”. Enjoy your time here.

[SheltieLover]

45. +1

[denbot]

48. .

[SheltieLover]

55. ...

I say every putin / war supporrting dirtbag removed from power is 1 step closer to the Ukranians winning.

I'm hoping this action indicates the Ukranian people's intention to reclaim ALL of their country!

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[MarineCombatEngineer]

49. +100. nt

[denbot]

52. .

[MarineCombatEngineer]

59. Hey there denbot,

how are the fuel prices affecting you?

[denbot]

75. I went all squishy..

I’m night dispatch now.. As for gas prices, the Mobile 50 yards from my house is $5.19 for 87 octane. Feel lucky with LA problems.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

79. Congratulations on your promotion?

Fuel prices have really taken a bite out of my wallet, nothing I can't handle and I fully support paying a bit more to support Ukraine and the sanctions.

[denbot]

84. I wanted to slide out of my rig, so I took a 30% pay cut.

Yeah we’re taking a bit of a beating, but running on all cylinders. We are being held up by sporadic and some cases chronic part shortages as we run new Volvo VNL’s. I imagine that’s not an issue your rig is more than a pretty face..

As for the lack of dough, I try to dry my tears by BBQ’ing or offset grilling in the dead of night..
it’s not like the neighbors don’t already think I’m nuts..

[MarineCombatEngineer]

87. Well, you did what you thought was in your best interest

and I commend you for that.

Getting parts for my 2 trucks hasn't been a issue yet, my older truck has a rebuilt Cat engine while my newer truck runs a Detroit engine, but I'm bracing myself for problems.

I don't think you're nuts, just eccentric.

[Bettie]

123. The first part: They had the high ground UNTIL THIS (emphasis mine)

tells us that you believe that they don't have a high ground (presumably moral) anymore.

The second part: It might not change that fact... indicates that your belief is that some might not accept your thesis that they no longer have moral high ground.

That is how it reads to the average person.

If that is not what you meant, well, we have no way of knowing what you actually meant.

[Hekate]

126. I think most of us understood you quite well, jstnwill. Unfortunately, quislings are unpopular...

…when a country is under attack by missiles.

[PCIntern]

82. Scrivener7:

You wrote EXACTLY that which I was thinking when I read that post. Well done.

[Polybius]

116. There was no need to kill him though

I agree with everything else you said though.

[Scrivener7]

119. I didn't mean to. But that high ground thing...

[alphafemale]

5. He was a traitor. And probably communicating with and assisting the enemy.

Only pro Putin people would see this as a bad thing.

[SheltieLover]

20. Nobody needs to "open the door"

Putin lies constantly. Always has.

I fully support Ukrainians!

This "mayor," likely installed by Putin, was not welcome in his neighbor's country.

Putin started this, and it appears the brave Ukranians are determined to finish it!

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[yardwork]

27. You don't know what war is, do you?

[treestar]

65. +1

Really.

[vanlassie]

32. "Fighting for the rule of law?"

Mmm…. Pretty sure they are fighting for their lives. How many dead now?

[Escurumbele]

69. "At worst, it's an act of judge, just and executioner style retribution." Explain how putin would do

different?

It seems that to you all the bombing and execution of innocent people that Putin is carrying on is not worst than that mayor, who like someone pointed out, was most probably helping Putin in his invasion by providing information and who knows what.

Instead of defending what you wrote, why don't you re-write and explain it better. Throwing a "that's a bad thing" out there without explaining you just opened the door for many to believe you are pro-Putin.

[58Sunliner]

74. I have to ask, when I see a lot of grammatical errors I think it's translated.

Is English your first language?

[OAITW r.2.0]

85. +1

Seems a little off, doesn't it? Of course, I also wonder about the grammar of RW trolls that post here, too.

[58Sunliner]

104. Oh yeah.

[Hekate]

127. +1

[SheltieLover]

13. And, no doubt, installed by Putin!

If he was pro poot, he was the enemy!

Maybe a warning to putin.

[atreides1]

6. Assuming?

The town is in territory controlled by the Russians and their separatist allies...

Think about what you just stated..."Yesterday the news was about returning Russian soldiers to their mom's."

Ukraine would have nothing to gain...but Russia would!

[Nevilledog]

58. Susan, is that you?

[Nevilledog]

64. Didn't mean Susan Sarandon.

[Hekate]

128. It is possible that you are indeed lost, and that your destination is thataway ---

[smirkymonkey]

131. Collins, I think.

A very wishy-washy senator from ME.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

12. Oh, you're one of them.

Thanks for your concern.

Welcome to DU.............

[MarineCombatEngineer]

18. You have no idea what you're talking about,

this happened in a Russian controlled town in Eastern Ukraine, where Russia shouldn't have been in the first place.

This isn't going to hurt the Ukrainians on the world image one bit, no one, except you and Russia, seems to give shit.

[OnDoutside]

54. Same as the reprisals in France in 1944, where they shot Nazi collaborators. It's the nature of

these things unfortunately.

[OnDoutside]

113. Absolutely, and I have no doubt that will be many dark days ahead

[treestar]

66. Putin created a state of war

There is no rule of law - other than actual war crimes.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

76. How the hell does this fall into the status of a POW situation?

So, all the resistance org. opposed to the Nazi occupation during WWII would also fall into the status of a POW situation?
You know how utterly asinine that sounds?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

90. ...

1) If Ukraine soldiers raided this guy's house
2) They didn't kill him as part of the raid
3) They captured him and he was securely detained
4) And the soldiers deliberately took him out into the street and killed him

But none of that happened did it?

And how would one prove that, in your scenario, he wasn't shot trying to escape?
Unless there's evidence, it didn't happen.

I have no sympathy for this traitorous piece of shit mayor, he made his bed, now he can lay in it.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

94. I'm curious, and in no way do I mean this as a slight,

but have you ever been in combat?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

99. Please don't take this as an insult to you, because this in not my intention,

but unless someone has been there, done that, then they have no true concept of fog of war,

I can't even adequately describe the terror, the noise, etc of combat.

Bad shit happens during wartime, that's a fact of life, and anything that strikes fear into the enemy is always a tactical plus.

Thanks for your work making that option available to me. ❤️

Thank you and you are very welcome.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

110. Fair enough,

and I'll take you at your word.

Gotta go, delivery pending.

Have a great day and welcome to DU and sorry for my semi hostile responses, we've have had a slew of RWNJ's and Russian trolls flood DU lately and we're kinda on guard against that.

Peace.

[SheltieLover]

16. Welcome to DU.

Btw, Ukranians still have the high ground! They are feeding POWs & allowing them to call moms. Offering to relwase them if moms will come to Ukraine to get them, and offering $47k to those who have not committwd war crimes if they surrender.

Anyone who supports putin is the enemy & fair game. Putin started this, unprovoked.

[speak easy]

33. In the longer term this is counter productive IMO

How does this make reunification of Ukraine more likely (after the war)? Has Kyiv completely given up on Luhansk?

[yardwork]

37. The war isn't over.

[speak easy]

42. It will be.

Haw do you convince the separatist areas that they will be safe in the new Ukraine. By entering the house of the guy who has been mayor of Kreminna for 8 years, dragging him out in front of his wife then executing him without a recognizable trial? How are they going to pitch reunification - you can trust our armed forces?

[yardwork]

44. And you know this how?

I don't think you have a clue what you're talking about. There is no guarantee whatsoever of how this will end.

[speak easy]

46. Well if the war is lost, if the separist areas are lost,

then it may make seen to dispatch traitors on the way out, but I don't think anyone is saying this.

[Hekate]

134. I think he enjoyed his brief stay

[SheltieLover]

21. "Vigilante?"

Really?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

23. Yeah,

my reaction also.

This one is really trying to hard.

[yardwork]

24. Their country is being invaded. The Russians are bombing kindergartens.

Do you remember the bomb in Oklahoma City? Remember the photos of dead children? Imagine five Oklahoma City bombings every single night. Wouldn't you fight back?

It's very likely that this could turn into a long drawn out resistance to invasion. A lot of horrible things will happen. War is all hell.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

35. Yuh, and the French and Polish Resistance against the invading Nazis and their sympathizers

were nothing but a vigilante lynch mob right?

Vichy Ukrainians should pack their bags and leave for Moscow immediately; all bets are off.

[yardwork]

39. Exactly.

[relayerbob]

51. He's a declared enemy combatant

QED

[CrackityJones75]

53. Unreal.

The guy invites putin and russia to steal their country, their resources, kill their people, is likely aiding that and you are hung up on the moral high ground angle.

Don’t be a fucking traitor that steals peoples lives and livelihoods and promote war abd shit like this doesn’t happen.

[jaxexpat]

96. That's fair enough.

1)This instance of "instant" justice may cause some long-term harm. I don't see it likely that it made anyone currently involved in this war any madder than they already were. Some strategically sensitive people may have ruffled feathers and scream about their feather straightening bill, but few will listen to them, now or later. It's worth noting that the population within the Donbas region is about 39% Russian, the remainder being, mostly, Ukraine loyalists. This executed mayor was a figurehead for the government unilaterally imposed on a demographic of Ukrainian people by Russia, a foreign power, who just happens to be indiscriminately shelling the town down the road. Just saying.

2)The "foundations of democracy" angle is probably too hyperbolic. Foundation of some evolved/evolving western codes and concepts of acceptable means to dispense justice, perhaps, but democracy's foundation is purely mathematics. Whichever Athenian gets the most pottery shards, wins. However, democracy has evolved a bit since ancient Greece. For instance, in the US, when electing a president, it's okay to seat the loser of the popular vote because, somehow the forefathers deemed that rich, white people's votes count more than anybody else's votes.

The difference between abstract and practical can get pretty fuzzy, too. Stick around, you'll see what I mean. BTW, welcome.

[jaxexpat]

107. Claret is important. I recommend a glass or two at dinner.

Oh, clarity? ...........good luck.

[Escurumbele]

62. Can you please elaborate why "This was a bad thing."??? I don't understand. Thank you

[Emrys]

63. Better toughen up and get used to it.

Would you be so upset about appearances if somebody was to assassinate Putin?

This is war. It gets dirty on the ground. Look away if it's so concerning. It's why many of us abhor war.

There have already been other cases of summary justice being meted out in other Ukrainian cities. The ones I've seen evidence of have fallen short of killing, but I'd be surprised if that hasn't happened as well.

It's a sheer decadent luxury to sit in comfort and safety wringing hands at how the rest of the world may perceive this action while devastation and mutilation are being dealt to Ukrainian civilians and military alike.

They didn't pick this fight. Putin did. He and his collaborators may see justice under conditions that may satisfy you if and when this all ends, but in the mean time, save your sympathy for the innocent.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

70. +100. nt

[Happy Hoosier]

68. I don't think so. Here's why.

Simply put, it shows the world that even DEEP in supposedly Russian-friendly territory, there is a spirit of total resistance to the invader. This is no different from the French partisans who killed Vichy collaborators during WWII. Does anyone think THEY lost the high ground? Nope.

Don't get me wrong... part of me is very uncomfortable with kangaroo courts, even under these dire circumstances, but hese people are fighting for their lives and freedom.

[58Sunliner]

71. WTF? They kill a Russian surrogate who sided with a terrorist and that's "bad"?

Good for them. Doing what they need to. Are you sure you are on the right board?

[IronLionZion]

78. Americans fantasize openly about vigilante killings without being invaded

Conservatives and GOP politicians repeatedly use war language to justify the unjustifiable here in the US.

Ukraine actually is being invaded by a foreign military killing their civilians, so some took it upon themselves to kill a traitor. I would think this undermines the Russians even more.

It is quite possible for some Ukrainians to feed Russian soldiers and allow their moms to pick them up while other Ukrainians kill anyone who helps the invaders.

Should America be judged by the many folks who do good things or the many douchebags who do bad things? Or some of both?

[Mariana]

80. Who is "they"?

They had the high ground until this...

[Wingus Dingus]

117. Did the Ukrainian army claim responsibility for this?

Because the article said "unknown" people in camouflage did it. For all we know, this could be a Russian false flag.

[chowder66]

132. This is what I'm wondering about. The wife only gives a vague description;

'On March 1 [there] was a statement from his wife that he was kidnapped [from persons] unknown in camouflage form.

Nothing about Ukrainian uniforms, language, etc. Just persons unknown in camouflage.

[Demsrule86]

83. No it is not...you can't leave someone like that in place and who knows how many deaths this

guy is responsible for. I have no doubt he would do all he could to help the Russians...war isn't about the high ground...it is about winning.

[Mysterian]

100. LMAO

The execution of a traitor actively aiding and abetting the enemy during wartime won't spark the outrage you want.

So sorry to piss on your parade.

[Spider Jerusalem]

109. Guess you'd've had a problem with the French Resistance killing collaborators, too, then (n/t)

[Wingus Dingus]

115. This is civilians. Not Ukrainian government or Army.

Civilians who are being slaughtered. So, no.

[SidDithers]

129. Are you seriously "tone policing" how Ukrainians are fighting for their homeland?...

Sid

[Torchlight]

130. Polish, Ukrainian and French resistances in WW2

did far, far worse to far, far many more, and for far, far longer.

And 85 years later and they yet hold a moral high ground neither you nor I could ever dream of achieving.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

22. Play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. The Ukrainian Resistance

is growing stronger every day.

[The Magistrate]

25. This Is Insurgency, My Friends, Get Used To It

When reading cheerful predictions Russia will face a fierce and widely rooted insurgency occupying Ukraine, do bear in mind what is being spoken of so airily is incidents like this, multiplied a thousand-fold, in every corner of the country. Liquidation of collaborators is high on the to-do list of any insurgency worth its blood, and this is the way that sort of thing is done. It's not all clean hits on men in uniform, not by a long sight.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

30. Well said sir,

well said.

[yardwork]

40. Yes. Some posters here seem to think this war is already over.

[SheltieLover]

43. Absolutely!

This "mayor" was likely installed by mad man putin who has his tyrants illegally occupying territories in Eastern Ukraine.

It's not just putin but all of his supporters as well who need to be removed from power as well.

This "mayor" was said to support both putin & this war.

I see this as a sign that the fiercely brave & determined Ukranians intend to reclaim those areas in the eastern part of the country as well as winning this war to ensure their freedom.

Imho, any peace talks should also include demands for putin to get out of Crimea & other areas currently occupied.

Unlikely, as putin is after Ukraine's neon. Essential for making chips. Ukraine has nearly all of it globally!

[OnDoutside]

56. Indeed, I can't imagine there will be a line of Pro-Russian mayors queueing up any time soon. Not

too dissimilar to the terror campaign that the IRA & UVF ran in Belfast, which is probably where this is headed.

[jaxexpat]

105. What an image......

Little guys in top hats and tails (think Monopoly) lined up, shouting, "Pick me!" "No, Pick me!" "Hey there, I'm next, not him." "I've been here the longest, though." "My mom's really counting on me being mayor, you know." "It's my destiny." "Sorry boys, but you might want to stick around, 'cause I think they're shooting the mayor now, (BLAM), yep, there's a spot open. So, who's next?"

I'm so ashamed.

[pecosbob]

121. and when there's questionable actors involved in your struggle like the Azov Battallion?

If our nation were invaded, how would we feel about fighting alongside Proud Boys or Illinois Nazis?

[The Magistrate]

122. Feelings Have Little To Do With It, Sir

The thing is what it is, and people engaged in it are what they are, and become by it what they do. Resistance movements draw more than their fair share of 'bad hats', who are already used to operating outside the social order one way or another, and the cause coarsens beyong recognition many an upright citizen who lasts in its service. At the risk of sounding glib, how I felt fighting alongside someone would be mostly determined by whether they could be relied on to give effective supporting fire.

[pecosbob]

124. What we want doesn't account for much when bullets begin to fly

[Hekate]

135. Thank you, Sir, for chiming in. Some of the reactions have been ...

…well, strange. Feelings are running high, and sometimes it leaves little room for splashes of cold logic.

Name Removed was certainly an energetic little bunny in this thread. ( “Moral high ground” my rosy Irish…) It appears he outstayed his welcome, but you can see all the tracks he left behind.

[frogmarch]

60. Look at the wonderful view

from this hotel window, Mr. Putin! It is glorious!

It's time.

[Brainfodder]

72. Hey KARMA, nice you made room in your schedule?

[58Sunliner]

77. Excellent work. Well done.

[gab13by13]

81. Just wondering if the same people

who think the killing of this traitor is negative, believe that if someone offs Putin that too is negative?

One thing about this killing, it was targeted. On the other hand, Putin has resorted to indiscriminate bombings. A man was on TV last night saying that Putin has fired on churches and hospitals.

The bottom line, if Putin sees he can't annex Ukraine he is going to try to reduce it to rubble, indiscriminately.

[gab13by13]

98. Putin doesn't care about negativity,

A European intelligence official said Moscow will crack down on protests and potentially conduct public executions to discourage Ukrainians from fighting back as cities fall under the Kremlin's control, reported Bloomberg.

Russia is also planning violent crowd control tactics and repressive detention of protest organizers to prevent uprisings.

[tenderfoot]

101. The Daily Mail... it's gotta to be true!

[bigtree]

112. fuck around and find out

...

[Wingus Dingus]

114. Take note, all Putin puppets who wish to be "installed" after they kill or remove Zelensky.

You will meet bad ends.

[alphafemale]

118. Exactly. You can't take a filthy traitor prisoner of war if it might be freed by invaaders

And cause even more harm.

[Baitball Blogger]

120. War is hell.

[Aristus]

133. It's rather astonishing that no one told him that being a public supporter of the foreign country

that is invading yours is not a good look.

Well, at least he doesn't have to worry about damage control for his re-election bid...