Russia tries to control Melitopol residents by spying on private conversations

This was reported by the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov.

"I have received reports from residents indicating a rise in the presence of individuals, primarily men, on the city streets who are actively eavesdropping on private conversations. It is evident that people expressing criticism or sharing truthful information about the occupation authorities risk being targeted by Russian forces," he wrote.

According to him, Ukrainian intelligence has noted the presence of "behavioral analysts" within security forces' groups conducting house searches in the temporarily occupied territories. The task of these observers is to further intimidate residents and identify people who are suspected of hiding something.

Fedorov explains that they are looking for "unreliable" people, trying to intimidate civilians and suppress any resistance.

• In the temporarily occupied Melitopol, Russia has begun preparations for the pseudo-presidential elections. Performers were brought to the city to campaign for Vladimir Putin and the "Russian world."