Ukrainian secret services have captured a pro-Kremlin politician and Vladimir Putin ally after weeks on the run - and may trade him for captive prisoners of war (POWs).
Viktor Medvedchuk - dubbed the Prince of Darkness - had escaped house arrest before going AWOL just three days after Russia launched its invasion on February 24.
The 67-year-old is the leader of Ukraine's main opposition party Opposition Platform For Life and has been described as the Russian President's right-hand man over the border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published a photo of the captive sitting on chair in handcuffs and looking tired on Tuesday.
He has suggested swapping rival Medvedchuk with POWs stuck in Russia.
Kyiv hopes he can prove a strong bargaining chip amid stalled negotiations with Moscow.
The Kremlin, however, says photos of Medvedchuk in cuffs might be fake, though has failed to back such claims up with evidence.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman said: “There are a lot of fakes coming from Ukraine. This needs to be checked first.”
He was last year detained by the SBU after a treason case was opened against him.
Medvedchuk denies any wrongdoing.
The former lawyer and oligarch has been branded the 'Grey Cardinal' and 'The Prince of Darkness' due his influence in business and politics.
The Ukrainian security services said in an online post: "You can be a pro-Russian politician and work for the aggressor state for years. You may have been hiding from justice lately.
"You can even wear a Ukrainian military uniform for camouflage.
"But will it help you escape punishment? Not at all! Shackles are waiting for you and same goes for traitors to Ukraine like you."
The post cited Ivan Bakanov, head of the secret services, as saying his operatives had "conducted a lightning-fast and dangerous multi-level special operation" to arrest Medvedchuk but did not give details.
Last month Zelensky said Opposition Platform For Life and several other smaller political parties with ties to Russia had been suspended.
Medvedchuk's lawyer has denied the allegation that he had escaped, instead claiming his client was forced to move location due to threats from nationalist groups.
“In connection with the real danger to life, as well as the need to ensure his protection, Viktor Medvedchuk was evacuated to a safe place in Kyiv,” the lawyer Larysa Cherednychenko said.
Medvedchuk claims Putin is godfather to his daughter and he describes him as "a personal friend".
In an interview with the Independent last year he stated that, unlike Putin, he sees Ukraine and Russia as two separate "Slavic nations, with intertwined histories, religion".
"I tell him this all the time. I don't think it's one nation. You simply can't say this."
He also claimed he "often" discussed Ukraine with Putin.
In May last year, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine accused him of treason and attempted looting of national resources in Crimea.
Months earlier, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine included Medvedchuk and his wife, Oksana Marchenko, on the Ukrainian sanctions list, due to alleged financing of terrorism.
