The Russians Might Have Expected a Warm Welcome. Instead the Mayor Labeled Them ‘Occupiers.’

He added: “Do you hear it, Moscow? If 2,000 persons are protesting towards the occupation in Melitopol, how many individuals in Moscow needs to be towards the battle?”

Mr. Zelensky mentioned he had raised the destiny of the mayor in calls with the leaders of Germany and France. Within the United Nations Safety Council, Ukraine’s ambassador additionally requested the Russians to launch him.

“We anticipate them, the world leaders, to indicate how they will affect the scenario,” Mr. Zelensky mentioned. “How they will do a easy factor — free one individual, an individual who represents all the Melitopol group, Ukrainians who don’t quit.”

Mr. Zelensky mentioned what he known as the “kidnapping” of the mayor was a part of a broader shift in ways. “They’ve switched to a brand new stage of terror, when they’re attempting to bodily eradicate representatives of the respectable native Ukrainian authorities,” he mentioned.

Sergey Minko, who represents Melitopol within the Verkhovna Rada, the nationwide Parliament, accused the Russians of violating human rights. “The battle is gaining momentum,” he wrote on Fb, “The occupiers are more and more defying the norms and rules of worldwide legislation, particularly humanitarian legislation.”

He described Mr. Fyodorov as a “great” mayor who had managed to maintain metropolis companies operating through the invasion.

When individuals waving the blue and gold of the Ukrainian flag took to the streets of Melitopol final weekend, Mr. Fyodorov inspired the demonstration. In his most up-to-date put up on Fb, he thanked enterprise leaders who had been serving to the group within the second of strife. “Collectively we are going to overcome something!” he mentioned.

Marc Santora reported from Lviv, Ukraine, and Neil MacFarquhar from New York. Sophia Kishkovsky contributed reporting.