Second Ukrainian mayor captured as Russian invaders target elected politicians: Ukrainian official

Russian forces took a second Ukrainian mayor captive, Ukrainian officers mentioned Sunday. 

Russian “warfare criminals” kidnapped Yevhen Matveyev, mayor of Dniprorudne, a metropolis within the Vasylivka Raion of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in accordance with Ukrainian Minister of International Affairs Dmytro Kuleba. 

“Getting zero native help, invaders flip to terror,” Kuleba tweeted. “I name on all states & worldwide organizations to cease Russian terror in opposition to Ukraine and democracy.

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Matveyev is the second Ukrainian mayor reportedly captured by Russian forces advancing within the area. 

Ivan Fedorov, mayor of the close by metropolis of Melitopol, was kidnapped on March 11, Kuleba mentioned Saturday. 

“Russian warfare criminals abduct democratically elected mayors of Ukrainian cities,” Kuleba tweeted. “Locals maintain protests demanding to free him.” 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded with Western nations that talk with Moscow – France, Germany, Israel and others – Saturday to assist him free Fedorov, saying in an tackle, “I will speak to whoever I would like to speak to to ensure that our folks to be freed.” 

Zelenskyy mentioned he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz concerning the challenge. 

His tackle got here hours after Ukrainian Parliament introduced Fedorov had been captured, saying a gaggle of 10 “occupiers” put a plastic bag on the mayor’s head in Melitopol’s disaster middle. 

“That is yet one more instance of the unlawful, cynical and barbaric acts perpetrated by the Russian armed forces within the context of their reckless and unprovoked aggression in opposition to Ukraine,” European Parliament mentioned in a press release in response to Fedorov’s abduction. “We name on the Russian navy authorities to free Mr. Ivan Fedorov instantly and to make sure that his well being and security is preserved. We urge the Russian authorities to completely respect the Geneva Conventions on combatants and non-combatant civilians and prisoners of warfare, in addition to all related provisions of Worldwide Humanitarian Regulation.” 

“These usually are not solely authorized obligations for the Russian Federation, however they characterize the collective ethical obligations of the worldwide group, together with the residents of Europe and Russia,” the assertion mentioned, including that violations of primary rights of civilians and assaults in opposition to civilian infrastructure “is not going to be forgotten and all perpetrators of such acts will likely be pursued underneath worldwide legislation.” 

Russian state-run media reported Saturday that prosecutors in Luhansk, a breakaway space acknowledged by Moscow in Ukraine’s disputed Donbas area, was making ready terrorism prices for Fedorov, accusing him of elevating funds for far-right teams, the New York Instances reported. Zelenskyy, who’s Jewish and misplaced kinfolk to the Holocaust, mentioned kidnapping Fedorov was supposed to additional Russian President Vladmir Putin’s unsubstantiated claims that Russian forces have to invade to liberate the Ukrainian folks from neo-Nazis. 

Melitopol, positioned northeast of the Russian annexed Crimea, got here underneath fierce combating on the primary day of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24. It has since been occupied by Russian forces, and Fedorov had been posting common social media updates encouraging resistance, offering lists for which ATMs have been nonetheless working, the place to buy milk and medication and warning that looters could be punished. 

“We’re not cooperating with the Russians in any approach,” he mentioned in an interview with the BBC two days earlier than he was kidnapped. “They haven’t tried to assist us, they can’t assist us and we don’t need their assist.”