LVIV, Ukraine — Ivan Fyodorov, as his title suggests, is an ethnic Russian in a southern Ukrainian metropolis the place Russian is usually spoken and the place cultural and familial ties to the motherland run deep.
That would appear to make Mr. Fyodorov, the mayor of Melitopol, simply the form of particular person to welcome conquering Russian troopers with open arms and flowers.
Instead, he labeled them “occupiers.”
On Friday night, these Russian troopers threw a bag over Mr. Fyodorov’s head and dragged him from his authorities workplace, Ukrainian officers stated. Security digicam footage from Melitopol’s Victory Square seems to point out somebody being escorted out of a authorities constructing by troopers, however The Times couldn’t confirm the identification of the folks within the video.
The Russian information company Tass reported on Saturday that the prosecutors workplace in Luhansk, one of many breakaway areas acknowledged by Moscow, was making ready terrorism fees towards Mr. Fyodorov, accusing him of elevating cash of the far proper group Right Sector.
On Saturday, a whole bunch of his townspeople poured out into the streets in an expression of concern and defiance, regardless of the presence of Russian troops.
“Return the mayor!” they shouted, witnesses stated and movies confirmed. “Free the mayor!”
Nearly as quickly as folks gathered, the Russians moved to close them down, briefly detaining one girl who they stated had organized the demonstration, in line with two witnesses and the girl’s Facebook account.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who has equally greeted the Russian offensive with defiance and bravado, stated the kidnapping of the mayor demonstrated the falsehood propagated by the Kremlin of a Russian incursion to avoid wasting the nation from a cabal of neo-Nazis within the capital, Kyiv.
“For years they have been lying to themselves that people in Ukraine were supposedly waiting for Russia to come,” he stated. “They did not find collaborators who would hand over the city and the power to the invaders.”
Melitopol got here beneath fierce assault on the primary day of the battle, Feb. 24, and Russian troopers entered solely days later. Since then, Mr. Fyodorov had brazenly inspired resistance, incomes him the assist of the general public and the ire of the occupying military.
The mayor, 33, lanky, match and photogenic, posted temporary stay broadcasts virtually day by day on social media to replace Melitopol residents on the state of affairs within the metropolis — which lies simply north of Crimea, the peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014. On at the least one of many posts, explosions could possibly be heard within the night time behind him as he tried to reassure residents that town was functioning as usually as potential.
On March 2, for instance, noting that armed males had opened fireplace within the course of some demonstrators, he warned residents away from confrontations with the Russian troopers throughout protests and requested them to respect a 6 p.m. curfew. “I consider it unacceptable when civilians are shot at!” he wrote. “Melitopol residents, in turn, are asked not to provoke and to behave peacefully on the streets. Our task is to save your life and safety.”
On March 5, he introduced that town was working to revive 31 non-public homes destroyed by the Russian forces, and he repeatedly thanked native corporations for contributing items and companies to assist a whole bunch of displaced households.
All alongside the mayor made it abundantly clear that his administration wouldn’t cooperate with the Russians, and he saved the Ukrainian flag flying excessive over town’s central sq..
“We are not cooperating with the Russians in any way,” Mr. Fyodorov stated in an interview with the BBC two days earlier than he was taken by the Russian troopers. “They have not tried to help us, they cannot help us and we do not want their help.”
He instructed residents the place to purchase milk and medication, revealed up to date lists of what pharmacies or A.T.M.s have been working and warned repeatedly that looters can be recognized and punished. He urged them to maintain paying their electrical energy payments, for the reason that cash went towards salaries, and as public transportation ceased working requested residents to offer free rides to medical employees.
Updated
March 12, 2022, 7:24 p.m. ET
Residents responded with an outpouring of gratitude, thanking him profusely for staying at his publish even after the Russian troops managed town. “You are the best mayor!” learn one enthusiastic response to his social media messages, whereas one other wrote “You are our hope!!”
Others fearful about his well being, on condition that Mr. Fyodorov appeared oblivious to the chilly, standing outdoor in only a gentle sweater and a down vest because the winter wind howled round him.
“Ivan Sergeyevich, why don’t you take care of yourself?” wrote one girl, utilizing his first title and his patronymic, a well mannered type of tackle within the Russian-speaking world. “Are you standing without a jacket in such cold weather? Please dress warmer!”
Born in Melitopol, a metropolis of simply over 150,000 folks, Mr. Fyodorov holds levels in economics and administration, and labored briefly for an organization doing medical imaging earlier than getting into politics. He served on town council for 5 years, from 2010 to 2015, and held varied posts together with deputy mayor, earlier than being elected mayor in December 2020.
To that time, whereas he might have harbored distinctive abilities, within the eyes of the world he was simply one other nameless native official.
Then got here Feb. 24, and his brave stand towards the Russian occupiers. But then he was led away within the hood, and has not been seen or heard from since.
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Iran nuclear deal. A European Union official stated that talks on reviving the 2015 deal have been placed on pause following the invasion. Russia, a signatory to the accord, has tried to make use of ultimate approval of the deal as leverage to melt sanctions imposed due to the battle.
The episode is a part of what Ukrainian officers say is a sample of intimidation and repression by the Russian forces that’s rising more and more brutal. It additionally illustrates an issue that Russia is prone to face even when it manages to pummel cities and cities into submission: widespread hatred, simmering unrest and, probably, revolt.
President Zelensky sought to faucet into that public rage in two videotaped speeches launched on Saturday.
“The whole country saw that Melitopol did not surrender to the invaders,” he stated. “Just as Kherson, Berdyansk and other cities where Russian troops managed to enter didn’t — temporarily managed to enter. And this will not be changed by putting pressure on mayors or kidnapping mayors.”
He added: “Do you hear it, Moscow? If 2,000 people are protesting against the occupation in Melitopol, how many people in Moscow should be against the war?”
Mr. Zelensky stated he had raised the destiny of the mayor in calls with the leaders of Germany and France. In the United Nations Security Council, Ukraine’s ambassador additionally requested the Russians to launch him.
“We expect them, the world leaders, to show how they can influence the situation,” Mr. Zelensky stated. “How they can do a simple thing — free one person, a person who represents the entire Melitopol community, Ukrainians who do not give up.”
Mr. Zelensky stated what he referred to as the “kidnapping” of the mayor was a part of a broader shift in ways. “They have switched to a new stage of terror, when they are trying to physically eliminate representatives of the legitimate local Ukrainian authorities,” he stated.
A brand new mayor, Galina Danilchenko, a former member of town council, was appointed by the Russians on Saturday, in line with statements by different regional officers on social media. Ms. Danilchenko was instantly denounced in varied posts as a “traitor.”
In a brief video carried by Ukrainian information organizations, Ms. Danilchenko stated her that her primary activity was to adapt town to “a new reality in order to as quickly as possible live in a new way.” She proposed establishing some method of “people’s committee” to handle vital points for town and the area.
Sergey Minko, who represents Melitopol within the Verkhovna Rada, the nationwide Parliament, accused the Russians of violating human rights. “The war is gaining momentum,” he wrote on Facebook, “The occupiers are increasingly defying the norms and principles of international law, in particular humanitarian law.”
He described Mr. Fyodorov as a “wonderful” mayor who had managed to maintain metropolis companies operating throughout the invasion.
When folks 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 publish on Facebook, he thanked enterprise leaders who have been serving to the group within the second of strife. “Together we will overcome anything!” he stated.
Marc Santora reported from Lviv, Ukraine, and Neil MacFarquhar from New York. Sophia Kishkovsky contributed reporting.