The mayor of the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, who was a member of a pro-Russian opposition political party, was found dead in his house with a gunshot wound on Sunday.

It was unclear whether Konstantin Pavlov’s death was a murder or suicide.

“Today we are investigating three versions – murder, suicide and likewise the negligent handling of weapons,” the head of the Dnipropetrovsk provincial police, Anatoly Shchadilo, said at a news conference.

Mr Pavlov was found next to his weapon, among other things. Footage from a surveillance camera is also being analysed, they said.

Mr Pavlov belonged to the pro-Russia party opposition Platform for Life, which has been under heavy pressure from government bodies in recent months.

The 48-year-old had only been elected mayor of the industrial city with over 600,000 inhabitants in December 2020.

President Volodymyr Zelensky grew up in the provincial town, which is about 350 kilometres south-east of the capital, Kyiv.

Mr Zelensky had announced on social networks that he would personally control the investigation.