Russians fatally shot Ukrainian music conductor Yuri Kerpatenko in his own home for refusing to participate in a concert that they planned in Kherson, Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.
"Yuri Kerpatenko openly showed his civic position and refused to leave occupied Kherson," the ministry said in a Saturday post on Facebook, confirming his death. No details were revealed about the identity of the person or group who killed him.
Kerpatenko, who has been working in the Kherson Regional Philharmonic since 2000, was asked to work with collaborators in the philharmonic and with Russians who planned the concert for October 1, featuring the chamber orchestra "Gilea" of the Kherson Philharmonic.
"This concert was intended by the occupiers to demonstrate the so-called 'improvement of peaceful life' in Kherson. However, the conductor of the orchestra Yuri Kerpatenko categorically refused to cooperate with the occupants," the ministry added. "We express our deepest condolences to Yuri's loved ones and colleagues. Eternal memory."
Kerpatenko was the chief conductor of the Kherson music drama theater named after playwright Mykola Kulish and was the main conductor of the Gilea Chamber Orchestra, according to the culture ministry.
Up until May, Kerpatenko had often written posts related to the invasion of Ukraine, according to his Facebook account. On April 25, he wrote: "The essence of Ukraine is freedom in a broad sense."
Kerpatenko's family members outside of Kherson lost touch with him in September, The Guardian reported on Sunday, citing a criminal investigation launched by the regional prosecutor's office.
His death was condemned by a number of artists including Finnish-Ukrainian music conductor Dalia Stasevska who told The Guardian that "the history of Russia imposing a 'comply or die' policy against artists is nothing new. It has a history which spans for hundred of years."
"I have seen too much silence from Russian colleagues," she added. "Would this be the time for Russian musicians, especially those living and working abroad, to finally step up and take a stand against the Russian regime's actions in Ukraine?"
Meanwhile, American-Ukrainian musician Vlad De Briansky also spoke about the conductor's death, which he described as "terrible news" in a post on his Facebook account.
Many Ukrainian civilians have either been injured or lost their lives during the ongoing war, with some dying as a result of military strikes intended for the Ukrainian army. Ukrainian authorities told Newsweek earlier this year that they are investigating around 5,000 cases of damage to civil objects, 2,000 illegal deaths and injuries of civilians, and 166 cases of torture. Additionally, the prosecutor general's office has identified 600 Russians, mostly soldiers, who are suspected of crimes ranging from rape to torture and murder.
Despite the losses, Ukraine has achieved a number of successes during its counteroffensive operations in recent weeks. The country regained a number of Russian-occupied territories, liberating regions including parts of the Kherson region and the village of Makiivka in the Luhansk region. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin's military is grappling with poor leadership, unmotivated troops, and issues with obtaining equipment and armor.
Newsweek reached out to the Russian foreign affairs ministry for comment.
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