Russia accuses Ukraine of poisoning two Moscow-appointed **s serving in annexed Ukrainian provinces.
Ukraine poisoned Luhansk Governor Leonid Pasechnik in December 2023 and Kherson Governor Vladimir Saldo in August 2022, although both are still alive, according to a Kremlin Defense Ministry briefing.
According to the report, on December 5, the former ** Pasechnik of the Ukrainian security service became a pro-Russian ** element and then suffered "severe poisoning with phenolic compounds." The statement added that Saldo, the former mayor of the city of Kherson and a pro-Russian member of the Ukrainian parliament, developed symptoms of poisoning on August 9, 2022 and was hospital**.
Russian authorities in Kherson had said in August 2022 that Saldo was ill, but did not say he had been poisoned. The governor has since regained public attention in the Russian-controlled Kherson region.
The two regions were among four Ukrainian provinces that Russia announced annexation in September 2022, before a series of "elections" were held to appoint pro-Kremlin candidates. Ukraine has not yet responded to these allegations.