He shared the information on Espreso TV.
"Russian occupiers began to erect fortifications, not only around the perimeter of Melitopol, but in the city itself. They are cutting off neighborhoods to build defense lines in the middle of the city. They are trying to pretend that they will fight for Melitopol. But they will not be able to hold the Ukrainian city, because the residents of the temporarily occupied Melitopol and the Ukrainian Armed Forces have other plans," emphasized Fedorov.
The mayor also added that Russian troops hardly keep military equipment within the city because of the residents’ resistance.
"Due to the resistance in Melitopol and Melitopol region, all enemy positions are known. We often saw explosions that eliminated enemy ammunition depots and military equipment. Now the occupiers are massing their personnel in schools, kindergartens, and vocational schools of the city. The Russian military occupy vacant apartments and evict people from their homes to occupy the premises," noted Fedorov.
Roman Kostenko, Ukrainian MP, Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, Colonel with the Security Service of Ukraine, noted that Russian forces are accumulating reserves at the Zaporizhzhia bridgehead.
The Ukrainian army repelled Russian attacks in 8 settlements, including Bakhmut and Mariinka. Ukrainian inmates forcibly taken to Russian prisons are being recruited in Russia.