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Ivan Fedorov: Ukraine mayor kidnapped by Russia freed in exchange for 9 captured Putin’s troops

Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov was abducted on March 11 as he was at a crisis center in Melitopol

A Ukrainian mayor abducted by Russia has now been freed, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday, March 16. Kirilo Timoshenko, an advisor to Ukraine's presidential office, confirmed that Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov was released from his abductors under a “special operation” and he will soon join the office. It has been said that in exchange for Fedorov, Kyiv had to free nine captured Russian conscript soldiers.

Melitopol has been under Moscow’s control since the beginning of the invasion. But Fedorov refused to bow down before Russia’s barbarism and supported pro-Ukrainian protests and as a result, he was kidnapped on March 11 as he was at a crisis center in Melitopol. He was reportedly taken away with a bag over his head by ten Russian troops. The leader was also accused of terrorism by Russia.

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After Fedorov’s abduction, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded with Germany and France for help. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also criticized the kidnapping. However, after Fedorov’s release, Zelenskyy had a call with him and conveyed to him that he’s “happy to hear the voice of a man alive,” as per a video posted on Telegram. The mayor replied: “Thank you for not abandoning me. I will need one or two days to recover and then I will be at your disposal to contribute to our victory.” The President then added: “We don't abandon our own.”

During a national address Wednesday night, Zelenskyy mentioned his call with Fedorov and stated, “We have finally managed to release the mayor of Melitopol from captivity. Ivan Fedorov is free. I talked to him today. The Russian military abducted him on March 11, trying to persuade him to collaborate. But our man withstood. He did not give up. Just as we all endure.”

Also, Dasha Zarivna, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian presidency, said on Wednesday that they have released nine captured Russian soldiers, aged 20 and 21, for the safe return of Fedorov. Zarivna added: “These are basically children, conscripts, who according to the Russian defense ministry are not present in Ukraine. But the whole world sees again that they are there.”

However, Fedorov is not the single mayor who was kidnapped by Moscow. On Sunday, March 13, Yevgeny Matveyev, the mayor of Dniprorudne, was taken into captivity. Also, Oleksandr Yakovlyev of Skadovsk and his deputy Yurii Palyukh were kidnapped. Slamming Russia, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted: “Russian invaders continue to abduct democratically elected local leaders in Ukraine. Mayor of Skadovsk Oleksandr Yakovlyev and his deputy Yurii Palyukh abducted today. States & international organizations must demand Russia to immediately release all abducted Ukrainian officials!”

Borrell wrote: “The EU strongly condemns the kidnapping of the mayors of Melitopol and Dniprorudne by Russian armed forces. It is yet another attack on democratic institutions in #Ukraine and an attempt to establish illegitimate alternative government structures in a sovereign country.”

“Condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s indiscriminate shelling of civilians in #Ukraine as well as the abduction by Russia of #Melitopol and #Dniprorudnyi mayors and other Ukrainians. Such abductions and other pressure on Ukraine’s local authorities are another blatant violation of international law. Russia’s military and political aggression against #Ukraine must stop,” European Council President Charles Michel added.