The mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, said that Sushko managed to curry favor with the pro-Kremlin authorities by heading the headquarters for preparing for the pseudo-referendum in his area.
Gauleiter was blown up in a car, was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he later died.
The Russian media published a video, which allegedly recorded the moment of the explosion of the car of the head of the occupation authorities in the village of Mikhailovka in Zaporozhye, Ivan Sushka.
The occupiers claim that the explosive device was planted under the seat of the car.
Prior to his appointment, Sushko worked as a toastmaster at weddings, and during the winter holidays - as Santa Claus.