Ukrainian soldiers claim to have apprehended Viktor Medvedchuk, a close supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was facing treason charges and evaded house arrest in Ukraine during the early days of the war.

Medvedchuk, who led Ukraine's pro-Kremlin "Opposition Platform — For Life" party, was arrested in 2021 on treason and financing terrorism allegations. He evaded home arrest and has been in hiding since Putin declared war on Ukraine on February 24. Putin is said to be close friends with Medvedchuk and the godfather of his daughter Daria.

Ivan Bakanov, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) head, announced late Tuesday on Facebook that the SBU had conducted a "lightning-fast and dangerous multi-level special operation" to apprehend Medvedchuk. Medvedchuk appears unkempt and pallid in a photograph issued by the SBU, and he is dressed in a Ukrainian army uniform.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Medvedchuk's capture in his nightly speech on Tuesday, claiming he was discovered attempting to disguise himself as a soldier. "If Medvedchuk chooses to wear a military uniform, he is subject to the rules of war," Zelenskyy added, proposing to trade him for Ukrainians held in Russian captivity.

In 2014, the US sanctioned Medvedchuk for using his "resources or influence to support or act on behalf of senior Russian government officials." IN JANUARY, the US sanctioned Medvedchuk and other Kremlin-connected Ukrainian officials again, accusing them of plotting to establish a collaborator government in the aftermath of an expected Russian invasion.

Since Medvedchuk was elected president in 2019 on a pro-Western platform, Zelenskyy has presided over a crackdown on him. In February 2021, the president sanctioned Medvedchuk and ordered the deactivation of three Kremlin-linked television networks believed to be owned by the tycoon for allegedly spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda. Medvedchuk was then charged with treason and placed under house arrest in May 2021. Ukraine accused him of selling military secrets to Moscow and exploiting Crimea's natural resources during Russia's annexation. Medvedchuk pleaded not guilty.

Zelenskyy suspended Medvedchuk's party, along with numerous others with ties to Russia, in March this year, following the Russian invasion.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesperson, told Russia's state-run TASS news agency that he had seen the images of Medvedchuk released by the Ukrainians but could not confirm their authenticity.