Esteemed theater director taken by Russians

LVIV, Ukraine
March 24, 2022, 08:18 AM
by AP/UNB

UNB News
LVIV, Ukraine
Publish- March 24, 2022, 08:18 AM
AP/UNB
Update- March 24, 2022, 08:53 AM

Esteemed theater director taken by Russians

A Ukrainian serviceman guards the area as Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, right, speaks during a press conference next to his brother, former heavyweight boxing world champion Wladimir Klitschko, in Kyiv, Ukraine,Wednesday, March 23, 2022. From a public park in the city, Klitschko said 264 civilians had so far died from Russian bombardment on the capital, including four children. As he spoke to reporters, explosions and loud gunfire echoed across the city. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Russian troops who occupy the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson seized one of the country's most prominent theater directors “in a fascist manner” and took him to an unknown location, Ukraine’s Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said.

Witnesses said nine Russian military vehicles pulled up to the home of Oleksandr Kniga early Wednesday and led him out. The Russians warned neighbors that if they came out of their homes, they would be killed, the witnesses said.

Read:7,000 to 15,000 Russian troops dead in Ukraine: NATO

“The whole world should know about this!” Tkachenko said on Facebook.

Kniga, 62, is one of the most important and respected theater directors in Ukraine. He founded the international theater festival Melpomene of Tavria.

He was among many in Kherson who oppose the Russian occupation. On Monday, Russian troops used stun grenades and fired in the air to disperse a protest.