By Anna Voitenko and Dan Peleschuk
BUCHA, Ukraine (Reuters) - As Russian troops approached Dniprorudne in their February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the city's long-term mayor Yevhen Matvieiev could have fled to safety.
Instead, he stayed behind to coordinate humanitarian aid and security for its residents as Moscow's forces occupied the southeastern Ukrainian city. Weeks later he was captured and not seen again. Last week his body was returned to Ukraine.
"Thanks to him, a large number of people were able to be rescued, freed, or moved to Ukraine-controlled territory," said Oleksandr Slobozhan, who worked with 63-year-old Matvieiev.
On Thursday, Matvieiev's body was laid to rest in Bucha, outside the capital Kyiv, after it was returned from Russian captivity with signs of having been tortured to death, Ukrainian officials said.
"Today [Wednesday] it became known that the mayor of Dniprorudne, Yevhen Matvieiev, died from torture in Russian captivity. He was kidnapped by the enemy almost 3 years ago in the Zaporizhzhia region because he provided for the community that elected him and trusted him," Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko wrote on Telegram.
Russia's defence ministry was not immediately available for comment. Russia denies mistreating prisoners of war and those in detention.
Weeping mourners including Matvieiev's wife quietly caressed his coffin as a light snow sprinkled down from an overcast sky. His official portrait stood propped up nearby.
Matvieiev was captured in March 2022 while freeing local workers who were being held by Russian troops, said Slobozhan, head of the Association of Cities of Ukraine.
" (He) stayed with his community for the sake of his people... we hoped for his exchange, for his release," he added.
Matvieiev was among the thousands of non-combatants whom the Ukrainian government says are being held captive in Russia as its invasion grinds into its third year.
In October, Ukraine blamed Russia for the death in captivity of journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who disappeared on occupied territory in August 2023.
Ukraine is also seeking the return of nearly 20,000 children it says were illegally deported to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since the invasion.
Moscow has denied committing war crimes.
Marc Cools of European human rights body the Council of Europe paid tribute to the mayor's courage and determination and condemned the abduction of mayors and local officials.
"Reports of Ukrainians being detained arbitrarily by Russia's forces are shocking and numerous. They confirm a widespread use of inhuman or degrading treatment and torture," he said.
"All abductions and arbitrary detentions amount to grave human rights violations."
At least six more mayors or heads of settlements are being held in Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday.
"They are among thousands of Ukrainians who are not guilty of anything but have been imprisoned for years, not only since 2022, but since 2014," he said in a video address.
More than 3,700 have been returned, he added.