FURIOUS Ukrainian President Zelensky compares Putin’s troops to ISIS terrorists as he slams the armed kidnap of the Melitopol mayor by Russian troops.
Zelensky is calling for the immediate release of the Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov, whose abduction was partially caught on video and shows him being taken from a government building with a bag over his head.
Ivan Fedorov is the mayor of Melitopol[/caption]
Zelensky posted a video to Telegram Friday night with the message.
“It is a democratic world here therefore the capture of the mayor of Melitopol is a crime not only against a particular person,” Zelensky said.
“Not only against a particular community. And not only against Ukraine. This is a crime against democracy.
“Obviously, this is a sign of the weakness of the invaders.
“They did not find collaborators who would hand over the city and the power to the invaders.
“Therefore, they have switched to a new stage of terror when they are trying to physically eliminate representatives of the legitimate local Ukrainian authorities.”
“The whole country saw that Melitopol did not surrender to the invaders, and this will not be changed by putting pressure on mayors or kidnapping mayors.”
Zelensky goes on to say that “this can only get worse for the invaders.”
Most read in World News
“The actions of Russian invaders will be equated with the actions of ISIS terrorists.”
Fedorov was captured by about 10 Russian soldiers, and led out of the government building when he allegedly refused to turn over the city to his captors.
Russian troops have been controlling the city of Melitopol for more than a week.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement about Fedorov’s capture on its Facebook page, saying “We call on the international community to respond immediately to the abduction of Ivan Fedorov and other civilians, and to increase pressure on Russia to end its barbaric war against the Ukrainian people.”
“The perpetrators of this and other crimes will be brought to the strictest responsibility.
The Ukrainian President has said thousands of Russians have been captured in the ongoing conflict, adding that a special headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war has been opened.
The move comes as Zelensky said his government’s current infrastructure can’t support the number of Russian fighters they’ve captured.
- Russian forces are massing near Kyiv as Ukraine is fortifying the capital for a long bloody siege
- Kremlin diplomats accused a pregnant woman of FAKING her injuries after Putin’s forces bombed a hospital
- Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned – and its feared Chelsea could fold if he doesn’t sell the club in 81 DAYS
- Russia has been accused of nuclear terrorism after bombing a reactor in Kharkiv
- Britain has warned that Russia could use chemical weapons as the invasion continues
- Incredible video shows a Russian armoured column being blitzed as it advances towards Kyiv
- Sanctions continue to bite – and one Russian was seen stocking up with dozens of McDonald’s burgers as the company withdrew
Zelensky, along with other Ukrainian officials, continue to accuse Russia of war crimes.
Russian missiles have already killed hundreds of civilians since the conflict began more than three weeks ago.
Most recently, Russian forces have targeted schools, orphanages, and hospitals, resulting in the deaths of children, Human Rights Watch said.
In response to the conflict, the US has imposed additional sanctions against Russian officials and oligarchs.
On Friday, new sanctions affected Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, members of the family of Putin’s spokesperson, as well as lawmakers.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, “Treasury continues to hold Russian officials to account for enabling Putin’s unjustified and unprovoked war.”
The news of the capture also comes as Zelensky said Ukraine was at a “strategic turning point” in the ongoing conflict with Russian forces.
“It is impossible to say how many days we still have … to free Ukrainian land. But we can say we will do it,” Zelensky said.
“We are already moving towards our goal, our victory.”
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS
Category: News, World News, Ukraine war
