More than 1000 Melitopol residents suffered Russian capture, hundreds remain prisoners - Melitopol Mayor Fedorov

He shared the information on Telegram, on Tuesday, February 28.

Mayor Fedorov said that Russian forces turned Melitopol into the largest prison in Europe.

In particular, he added that all residents were deprived of freedom of speech, their right to movement was restricted, and "some are plainly imprisoned":

• over 1000 civilians from Melitopol have been held captive by Russian forces in a year;

• hundreds of them continue to be prisoners;

• dozens have been imprisoned for more than 6 months, and some for a year;

• some civilians are being held in the Lefortovo Prison, Moscow.

"Russian forces are intimidating their families to keep their mouths shut, but silence can cost the health and life of the abducted person," the post reads.

• On February 21, Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol, noted that Russian troops are already building underground cities, for example, in the village of Novomykolaivka near Melitopol, they are burying shipping containers in the ground.

• On February 23, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Russian forces in Melitopol are planning to hold a so-called "oath to the junior army" for children from all over the city, and in Mariupol, taking advantage of the humanitarian crisis, they are offering locals to erect military fortifications for food.