Updated Mar 14, 2022 - World

Ukraine says Russian forces have abducted a second mayor

Ivana Saric

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba — Dmytro Kuleba gives a press conference after meeting with Russia's foreign minister for talks in Antalya on March 10. Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday accused Russian forces of abducting a second Ukrainian mayor, Yevhen Matveyev, from the southern city of Dniprorudne.

State of play: The report comes days after Ukrainian officials said Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov was captured by Russian forces. Galina Danilchenko, Melitopol's new mayor in the Russian-occupied city, said in a video address Sunday that the region would start broadcasting "Russian TV channels," per CNN.

The Kremlin is cracking down on free speech in Russia, threatening to imprison journalists for up to 15 years if they publish what Moscow deems to be "fake" information about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russian state media has been referring to the war as a "special military operation."

What they're saying: "Getting zero local support, invaders turn to terror. I call on all states & international organizations to stop Russian terror against Ukraine and democracy," Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

The big picture: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday warned of "a new stage of terror" in reference to Fedorov's abduction.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Fedorov's kidnapping a war crime in a statement posted to Facebook on Friday.
About 2,000 people protested in front of Melitopol's city hall Saturday demanding the mayor's release, per the Washington Post.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Danilchenko.

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Ukraine says Russian forces have abducted a second mayor

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