A former Russian-installed official in southern Ukraine, widely known for his collaboration with Moscow’s forces during the early days of the full-scale invasion, has been killed following a drone strike.
Volodymyr Leontiev, 61, described by Kyiv as the “gauleiter” of occupied Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region, was struck on Wednesday morning, Oct. 1, when what Russian officials described as a “Baba Yaga” drone hit his vehicle.
Kherson occupation chief Volodymyr Saldo initially said Leontiev was hospitalized in critical condition but later confirmed his death.
“Today, during an enemy drone attack, the chairman of the Council of Deputies of Nova Kakhovka, Volodymyr Leontiev, was injured. He is now in serious condition in hospital,” Saldo said in an early statement.
He later called Leontiev “a man well known to everyone in Nova Kakhovka and throughout the region,” adding that he had “led the city through its most difficult trials.”
Ukraine has not officially commented at the time of publication.
Russian forces appointed Leontiev as the so-called head of Nova Kakhovka in April 2022. That same month, Ukrainian prosecutors issued him a formal suspicion notice for collaboration.
In July 2022, police announced additional charges, accusing Leontiev of involvement in the abduction of journalist Oleh Baturin. Ukrainian authorities later expanded the allegations, and in June 2025 he was formally suspected of participating in the kidnapping of Beryslav Mayor Oleksandr Shapovalov.