“The most important task of the Russians was to persuade me to cooperate. [Владимир] Saldo was not a “governor” [захваченной врагом части Херсонской области]they told me: “You can take this place,” Mikolaenko said.
According to him, the Russians said that the Kherson region is supposedly historically their place.
“There was no conversation about Kherson at first. I said that I was 62 years old, and we can work up to 60 in such positions. And they said:“ You don’t go, join, ”I said:“ If you need information, how to prepare the city for the heating season, I am ready to show you problem areas, let's change the pipes. Because you took a city with weapons in your hands, but you took responsibility for the life of the city, ”Mikolaenko said.
He noted that after the “appointment” of the collaborator of Saldo in Pakino (RF), one of the invaders “came to him” to communicate “.
“The conversation was as follows:“ Do you understand that you are still captured? ” -“ No, I don’t understand, here I am sitting. And what should I go out before? ” -” So you have not changed your mind? ” -” No, we will sit. We will wait for the liberation of the whole of Ukraine, ”Mikolaenko retold.
Context
Mikolaenko headed Kherson in 2014–2020. On April 18, 2022, his wife informed the publication “Most” that her husband was abducted by the invaders. According to her, Mikolaenko called a comrade to the meeting. After that, he called on the phone, but nothing was heard. There was no more connection with Mikolaenko. Earlier, the ex-mayor said that he received threats from the invaders.
In May, a video appeared on how the Russian propagandist tried to force Mikolaenko to call the commander in chief of the Ukrainian rebel army Roman Shukhevich, a colleague of Nazi Germany, but he did not succeed.
Mikolaenko was released from captivity on August 24, 2025.
