Putin's closest ally in Ukraine arrested in special operation

Viktor Medvedchuk.
(Image credit: Ukrainian Presidency/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Image)

Viktor Medvedchuk, Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest ally in Ukraine, was captured on Tuesday during a "lightning-fast and dangerous" special operation, the head of Ukraine's security service said.

Medvedchuk, 67, was charged with treason in May 2021, accused of selling military secrets to Russia and exploiting natural resources in Crimea. He escaped from house arrest not long after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. It isn't immediately known where Medvedchuk was found and how he was arrested.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.