Ukrainian politician’s widow: 'pro-Russian killers left my husband's body full of holes'

 
Distraught: Vladimir Ryback’s widow Elena. The politician was allegedly tortured to death (Picture: AP)

A Ukrainian politician’s widow today described horrifying injuries suffered by her husband when pro-Russian mil-itants allegedly tortured him to death.

Vladimir Rybak was found floating in a river near the town of Slovyansk in eastern Ukraine, which is occupied by armed pro-Russian separatists.

His wife Yelena said the body of her husband, who was a member of the Fatherland party which backs the government in Kiev, was “full of holes”.

The death of Mr Rybak, a father of two, led Kiev to relaunch operations to clear out separatists occupying buildings in a series of towns in east Ukraine. Today interior minister Arsen Avakov said police had cleared the city hall in Mariupol of masked gunmen.

Mr Rybak, 42, was last seen being bundled into a car by men in balaclavas.

Memorial : a child in Prague embraces one of 107 wooden crosses which honour those killed during the protests in Kiev (Picture: Reuters)

Preparing for his funeral, his widow, a 49-year-old doctor, told how she went to identify his remains: “My first impression was there was so many holes in the body — holes in the body of someone who was so much to me.

“How can people be so cruel? How can they do that to a fellow human being? There must have been quite a few men who took part in this kidnapping. I heard that when they tried to get him into the car he said he had to go home, then they dragged him in.”

Armed: Ukrainian security force officers walk past a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk (Picture: Reuters)

Separatists denied responsibility and blamed Ukrainian nationalists. Meanwhile Mr Avakov said Mariupol city hall had been “liberated” with no casualties, and with the help of “civic activists”.

The government claims separatists are directed from Moscow. Russia de-nies this and has threatened to invade if its interests are “attacked directly”.

In regional capital Donetsk, separatists called for Russian troops to cross the border to help police an independence referendum planned for May 11.

Ready: a member of the Ukrainian special forces takes position atop an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk (Picture: AFP/Getty)

A similar poll in neighbouring Lugansk is expected. But Kiev aims to hold a presidential election on May 25.

Some 150 US troops from 173rd Airborne Brigade arrived in Poland today ahead of military exercises. They are the first part of a larger deployment.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed RAF Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled after two Russian military aircraft approached Scotland yesterday. They are believed to have turned away.

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