- The mayor was released on a prisoner exchange six days later, Kyiv said
- Fedorov called on the pope: “Maybe he can stop this war”
- “Half of my city has been destroyed,” said the mayor of Melitopol
- Russia is seeking control of Ukraine’s southern region
ROME, April 18 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s mayor described hours of “tough” interrogations held by Russian forces for almost a week last month, and said he had called on the pope for help to stop a war that has destroyed parts of Russia. his city in southern Ukraine.
“These were dangerous six days because I realized that for the Russians my life and the lives of civilians cost zero,” said Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol, now under Russian control, in Rome on Sunday, a month after his release.
Ukraine said Fedorov was abducted on March 11th after Russian forces captured Melitopol, west of the besieged city of Mariupol in the southern region Russia seeks to control. Kyiv announced the release of Fedorov in an exchange of prisoners on March 16.
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Russia, which calls its actions in Ukraine a “special military operation”, did not comment on the mayor’s detention or the exchange of prisoners reported by Ukraine.
Fedorov, who met with Pope Francis and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday before attending service on Easter Eve, said he had asked the Vatican to intercede with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ensure humanitarian corridors for Mariupol, which is facing devastating bombing.
Major Sergei Volina, commander of Ukraine’s 36th Marine Brigade, which is still fighting in Mariupol, also called on the pope for help in a letter published in the Telegram on Monday.
“I don’t have much time to describe all the horrors I see here every day. Women with children and babies live in bunkers … Every day the wounded die because there is no medicine. There is no water, no food,” he wrote. “Help save them.”
Describing his detention by Russian forces at the Melitopol police station, Fedorov said in an interview: “They came to me at night with five or seven soldiers and talked for about four or five hours, a difficult dialogue.”
“HALF OF MY CITY IS BROKEN”
“They wanted to give me an example of what would happen if we did not agree with what the Russians wanted,” the mayor told Reuters and the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, saying he was facing “mental” but not physical torture.
“Russian soldiers thought they would be welcome, but they weren’t … and that’s why the Russians were very, very angry,” he said.
“There is no food in my city. There is no pharmacy. Half of my city has been destroyed. More than 200 people have been abducted. It is not safe to walk the streets,” he said.
Russia denies targeting civilians and rejects what Ukraine says is evidence of atrocities, saying Kyiv organized them to undermine peace talks. Moscow says it launched hostilities almost two months ago to demilitarize Ukraine and eradicate what it calls dangerous nationalists.
The conquest of Melitopol, Mariupol and the southern coast will give Russian forces a land link between pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Russia has said it has almost complete control of Mariupol.
Fedorov, who said he maintained regular contact with Melitopol residents, said he had invited the pope to visit Ukraine because “maybe he can stop this war.”
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky also invited the pope, pledging to ensure his security. Read more
Pope Francis has implicitly criticized Russia, calling for an end to the war, which involved unwarranted aggression and invasion. Addressing Fedorov and other Ukrainians in the service on Easter Eve, the pope said: “Have courage, we are accompanying you.” Read more
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Report by Philippe Pulella; Edited by Edmund Blair
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