Former Ukrainian official found dead, suspected contract killing
On the morning of March 28, the body of a man was found on the roadside in the Kamianske area of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. He was identified as Oleksandr Plakhotnik, a member of the "Batkivshchyna" party, a former head of its structures in Kamianske, and a former deputy mayor. Reports indicate he had a gunshot wound to the head.
The regional branch of the "Batkivshchyna" party is refraining from commenting on its member's death. Antonina Ulyakhina, head of the deputies' faction in the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council, told "Suspilne" that law enforcement agencies are investigating all the circumstances to determine what happened.
"We believe it was a contract killing"
This is a painful loss for the party. Oleksandr led the branch in Kamianske for a very long time. It feels like he always led it. He was tactful, had diplomatic skills, and could resolve conflicts when they arose – she said.
The deputy's body was discovered by another driver on the roadside. According to the TSN station, the man had a gunshot wound to the head.
No official statement from the party has been made yet. We are in shock and believe it was a contract killing. Oleksandr was a very important, long-term, and influential member of the party and an activist, said Volodymyr Fedorov, head of the informational and analytical department of the regional organization of the "Batkivshchyna" party, to TSN.
According to Ihor Zadorozhny, head of the communication department of the Kamianske City Council, Plakhotnik had recently been more involved in business than politics.
His wife was a deputy in the regional council. He himself was no longer a political figure. His business, as far as I know, was not located in Kamianske. He was a decent man who managed his affairs and supported sports. He led a quiet life – he added.
Had connections with the Dubynsky brothers wanted by the FBI
Media reports claim Plakhotnik was connected to brothers Volodymyr and Leonid Dubynsky, who the FBI wants on real estate fraud charges in the USA.
Leonid Dubynsky is also suspected of embezzling 4.7 million US dollars, which was designated for reconstructing the water supply system in the Kamianske area.
In January 2025, he was detained, and the court set a bail of 2.2 million US dollars, which was paid. Oleksandr Plakhotnik served as the municipal enterprise "Kamianske Water Supply" director from 2017 to 2019.
