Mayor Ivan Fedorov of Melitopol was kidnapped earlier today after reportedly failing to cooperate with Russian soldiers.
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Fedorov was taken from the city’s crisis center after ten Russian troops infiltrated the area and were seen on surveillance footage placing a plastic bag over his head. Russian officials reportedly accused the mayor of “terrorism” and Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has called the kidnapping a “war crime” and asked for allies to apply more pressure on Russia due to the increased attacks on citizens.
“We urge the international community to immediately react to the abduction of Ivan Fedorov and other civilians in Ukraine, to strengthen pressure on Russia to force it to end the barbaric war against the Ukrainian people. The facts of the kidnapping of the mayor of Melitopol, as well as hundreds of other facts of war crimes of Russian occupiers on Ukrainian land, are carefully documented by law enforcement agencies. The culprits of this and other crimes will be brought to the harshest accountability.”
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The city is currently under siege by Russian troops and over 2 million Ukrainian civilians have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict.
SOURCE: NPR