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CCTV reveals moment 'Russian forces kidnap Ukrainian mayor'

Surveillance footage has supposedly captured the moment the mayor of a city in southeast Ukraine was kidnapped by Russian forces.

The Parliament of Ukraine said on social media the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, was kidnapped by a group of 20 occupiers.

"He refused to cooperate with the enemy," Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine said.

Ivan Fedorov the mayor of Melitopol was kidnapped last week, with Ukrainian authorities blaming Russian forces. Source: Twitter/@ValeryKosta
Ivan Fedorov the mayor of Melitopol was kidnapped last week, with Ukrainian authorities blaming Russian forces. Source: Twitter/@ValeryKosta

CCTV footage of the kidnapping has been shared to social media. An aide to the Ukrainian president reportedly shared the video to Telegram.

Anton Heraschenko, adviser to Ukraine’s interior ministry, said 10 soldiers entered the city's crisis centre on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported.

The Ukrainian flag stood in the mayor's office, the Parliament of Ukraine said on Twitter adding that Melitopol is under the "temporary control" of Russian forces.

A bag was placed over Mr Fedorov's head and he was taken to an unknown location.

In the CCTV, several bystanders watch on as a man is swiftly escorted away form a building by a group of men. Ukrainian authorities have accused Russian forces of the kidnapping.

Zelensky condemns kidnapping

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also addressed the kidnapping in a video shared to Facebook and said Russian forces have changed their approach.

"A mayor who courageously defends Ukraine and the people of his community," President Zelensky said.

"Obviously this is a sign of the weakness of the invaders. They did not find any support on our land, although they counted on it. Because for years, they have been lying to themselves that people in Ukraine were supposedly waiting for Russia to come.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the kidnapping was a crime against democracy. Source: Twitter - @ua_parliament/Facebook - Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the kidnapping was a crime against democracy. Source: Twitter - @ua_parliament/Facebook - Volodymyr Zelenskyy

"They did not find collaborators who would hand over the city and the power to invaders. Therefore, they have switched to a new stage of terror, where they are trying to physically eliminate representatives of the legitimate local Ukrainian authorities."

He went on to say the kidnapping of Mr Fedorov was not just a crime against a single person, community, or Ukraine as a whole, but a crime against democracy.

Mr Zelensky added the actions of the Russian invaders would be equated to the actions of terrorists.

The kidnapping has since triggered protests in Melitopol with at least 2000 people taking to the streets in support of Mr Fedorov.

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