The kidnapping introduced sturdy condemnation from the European Union.

Kyiv:

A Ukraine mayor was kidnapped by invading Russian forces on Sunday, the second such kidnapping in days, bringing sturdy condemnation from the European Union.

“The army of the Russian Federation captured the mayor of the city of Dniprorudne,” within the Zaporizhzhia Oblast area of southeast Ukraine, the regional administration head Oleksandr Starukh stated on Facebook.

On Friday the mayor of southern Ukraine’s Melitopol was kidnapped by Russian troopers occupying town, as a result of “he refused to cooperate with the enemy”, in accordance with the Ukraine parliament.

“The EU strongly condemns the kidnapping of the mayors of Melitopol and Dniprorudne by Russian armed forces,” EU international coverage chief Josep Borrell stated in a put up on Twitter.

“It is yet another attack on democratic institutions in Ukraine and an attempt to establish illegitimate alternative government structures in a sovereign country,” he added.

European Council President Charles Michel additionally condemned “in the strongest terms Russia’s indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Ukraine as well as Russia’s kidnapping of the mayors of Melitopol and Dniprorudne and other Ukrainians. “These kidnappings and different strain on Ukrainian native authorities represent one other flagrant violation of worldwide legislation,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Saturday on the leaders of France and Germany to help secure the release of the mayor of Melitopol.

“During the evening and right this moment we’re speaking to our companions concerning the state of affairs with our mayor. Our demand is evident: he have to be launched instantly… I’ve already phoned (German) Chancellor Olaf Scholz. I’ve spoken to (French) President Emmanuel Macron… I’ll converse to all the mandatory folks to get our folks launched,” Zelensky stated in a video launched by the Ukrainian presidency.

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