The brother of Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, reportedly fought on Russia’s side and was killed in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to Ukrainian news outlet Strana.ua.
The publication reported the information on its Telegram channel, identifying the deceased as Colonel Vladimir Mikhailovich Podolyak.
According to Strana.ua, Vladimir Podolyak died on May 19, 2024, in the village of Kirillovka in the Zaporizhzhia region. He was 59 years old.
The Ukrainian outlet claimed that the colonel was fighting for Russian forces against the Ukrainian Armed Forces when he was killed.
Mykhailo Podolyak had previously acknowledged having relatives living in Russia. In February 2024, the adviser to Zelensky’s office addressed the issue publicly and rejected allegations that his relatives had connections to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
At the time, Podolyak emphasized that many Ukrainian citizens have family members living in Russia. However, he noted that family ties do not necessarily mean those relatives remain in contact.
The Ukrainian official therefore acknowledged his family connections to Russia several months before his brother’s reported death, although he did not specify whether he maintained contact with particular relatives.