**Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Eliminates Collaborator Tied to POW Torture in Occupied Berdiansk**
In a targeted operation, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) has successfully eliminated Mykhailo Hrytsai, a senior collaborator with Russian occupation authorities in the city of Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. According to a source from the HUR, who spoke to the Kyiv Independent on June 18, Hrytsai was directly involved in organizing repressions against the local Ukrainian population and establishing torture chambers for prisoners of war.
**A History of Repression**
As the Russian-installed deputy mayor responsible for infrastructure, housing, utilities, and the energy sector, Hrytsai played a crucial role in facilitating the illegal seizure of municipal and state property in Berdiansk. This is not his first brush with controversy – he had previously participated in Ukrainian political life, serving as an assistant to a member of parliament and heading the Berdiansk branch of the Socialist Ukraine party before siding with Russian occupation forces.
**A City Under Occupation**
Berdiansk, a port city on the Azov Sea, has been under Russian control since the early days of the full-scale invasion in 2022. It remains a critical logistics hub for Russian forces, facilitating the transport of looted Ukrainian grain and other resources. This makes it a prime target for Ukrainian military intelligence, who are determined to disrupt Russian operations and protect their citizens.
**A Message from Ukraine’s Military Intelligence**
In a statement, a source from the HUR emphasized that there are still many collaborators and accomplices of the enemy operating in occupied territories across Ukraine. They vowed to eliminate these individuals by any means necessary, stating: “We will definitely get to each and every one of them and put an end to their criminal activities by any means necessary.” This message is a clear indication of Ukraine’s determination to protect its citizens and bring perpetrators of war crimes to justice.
**A Pattern of Targeted Strikes**
This operation follows another targeted strike in Berdiansk on February 20, which killed Yevgeny Bogdanov, the deputy head of the Russian-installed administration. Ukrainian military intelligence has accused him of war crimes, highlighting the need for accountability and justice in occupied territories.
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