‘Where the f—’s the cash?’ Russian occupation official in Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka reportedly arrested over viral video of him swearing in front of war memorial

On April 30, pro-Kremlin outlets and self-styled “war correspondents” reported the arrest of Vitaliy Hura, the Russia-installed head of Nova Kakhovka, an occupied town in Ukraine’s Kherson region. Allegedly, Hura was jailed on criminal charges of “desecrating symbols of Russian military glory” — an offense that carries up to 10 years in prison under Russia’s Criminal Code. His crime? A video that appears to show him laughing and swearing in front of a local war memorial. Here’s what we know so far about Vitaliy Hura’s arrest. 

The arrest of Vitaliy Hura, the Russia-installed head of the occupation administration in Nova Kakhovka, was first reported on April 30 by the pro-Kremlin outlet Bloknot Kherson, the Telegram channel Mash na Donbasse, and blogger Maria Koleda. 

Writing on Telegram, Koleda reported that Hura was taken to a police station and then jailed after a video of him joking and swearing in front of a war memorial went viral online. According to Bloknot Kherson, Hura was placed in a pre-trial detention center (SIZO-1) in the nearby village of Chonhar, not only for “investigative purposes” but also on a misdemeanor charge of disobeying police. 

Another “war correspondent” blogger, Vladimir Romanov, reported that Hura was arrested on criminal charges of “desecrating symbols of Russian military glory” — an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison under Russia’s Criminal Code. “Hura faces not only dismissal but also real criminal consequences. For now, the residents of Nova Kakhovka are demanding his resignation and justice,” Romanov wrote. “After all, if an official allows himself to make such ‘jokes’ [on video] then what does he do when the cameras are turned off?” 

The footage that allegedly led to Hura’s arrest went viral on social media in late April. Judging by open sources, it was filmed in Nova Kakhovka near a local monument commemorating “heroes of civil and patriotic wars.” The 20-second clip shows Hura standing in front of a memorial, where wreaths have been laid, wearing a St. George’s ribbon on his lapel. Laughing into the camera, the occupation official unleashes a string of expletives, asking “Where the fuck’s the cash?” He then collects himself and appears to address local residents, saying, “Dear people of Nova Kakhovka,” right before the video cuts off. 

The date the video was recorded and the identity of the person who published it online remain unknown. Pro-war pundits speculate that Hura was likely pre-recording a Victory Day address. According to Bloknot Kherson, Hura’s staff have been “trying with all their might” to justify his actions, going so far as to claim the video predates his appointment to office.

A Ukrainian citizen, Hura began collaborating with Russian occupation authorities after the 2022 invasion, having previously served as a district official in the Kherson region. According to iStories, he used to work for the Nova Kakhovka city water utility and led a local political group called “Socialists.” 

In August 2022, Russian state media reported that Hura, then the deputy head of the Nova Kakhovka occupation administration, had been hospitalized in critical condition following an attempt on his life. Occupation officials in Nova Kakhovka later claimed that he had died of his injuries. However, it later emerged that Russia’s Federal Security Service had faked Hura’s death. In an interview broadcast on Russian state television, Hura said the FSB informed him in advance of the planned assassination attempt and then staged his death in order to arrest the perpetrators. 

In March 2023, Hura was injured in a car explosion. He was appointed head of the Nova Kakhovka occupation administration that October. 

In late April, a Ukrainian court sentenced Hura in absentia to 9.5 years in prison after finding him guilty of collaboration.