Kharkiv Mayor Gennady Kernes returned to Ukraine on Tuesday after having been discharged from the Israeli hospital where he has been receiving treatment since being shot in April.
Kernes arrived at the Kharkiv Airport in a wheelchair, thanking the crowd and the doctors who had treated him, Interfax reported.
The mayor of Ukraine's second-largest city was shot in the back on April 28 while cycling on the outskirts of Kharkiv. Kernes' rib cage and internal organs were damaged in the assassination attempt.
Kernes, 54, was transported to Israel on the night of April 29, where he underwent a -hour operation. Throughout his treatment, Kernes continuously pledged he would return to Kharkiv City Hall.
Ukraine's Interior Ministry said that the shooting may have been linked to "separatism-minded individuals." Kernes' friend and former Kharkiv governor, Mykhailo Dobkin, told journalists in April that Kernes' shooting was an attempt to destabilize the city of 1.5 million.
See also:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
