Kidnapping Mayor of Melitopol: The Russians called me for hours

Ivan Fedorov, mayor of the occupied town of Melitopol, said after his release: “were six dangerous days, because I realized that for the Russians, my life and the lives of civilians were worth zero,”.

They came to me at night with five or seven soldiers and spoke about four or five hours, difficult dialog”.

Fedov said Russian soldiers had wanted to make an example, adding that he had faced psychological but not physical torture.

Russian soldiers assumed they would be welcomed, but were not welcomed... and that's why the Russians were very, very angry,” he said.

The mayor, who is now in Rome after being released in an exchange of prisoners, said he is still in regular contact with people in Melitopol.

Civilians there have no food or pharmacy available and it is not safe to walk in the street, he said. /oranews/