Russia is facing new forms of resistance in the cities it has conquered in Ukraine, where attempts to kidnap and replace political leaders have been met with legal resistance and defiant public protests.
Russian troops have detained mayors of at least two regions, Ukrainian officials say, replacing one of them with a pro-Kremlin opposition member. Lawmakers in a third Russian-occupied city say the groundwork is being laid for a political coup.
Despite overcoming significant Ukrainian military resistance to occupy the territories, attempts to oust local leaders led to further difficulties for Moscow.
Ukraine’s attorney general has opened a treason investigation against Galina Danilchenko, the newly sworn mayor of Melitopol, in the Russian-occupied south-east of the country, after the city’s then-elect mayor, Ivan Fedorov, was arrested by gunmen in the last Friday (11).
The move follows a call by city lawmakers for a criminal investigation of Danilchenko into what they called a “high crime of treason, for trying to establish an occupation government in Melitopol”.
The city council accused Danilchenko – a former member of the city council, according to the regional administration’s website – of dissolving the city government and transferring its powers to a Committee of People’s Deputies.
Danilchenko declared himself a local leader and immediately said in a televised speech on Sunday that “Russian TV channels” would begin airing in the city. His rise was met with protests, with hundreds of people outside the town hall chanting “Freedom for the mayor” and “Fedorov”.
The Russian-backed Luhansk regional prosecutor, a region controlled by the separatists about 480 km from Melitopol, said the reason for Fedorov’s arrest was a crime of terrorism.
A second mayor – Yevhen Matveyev, leader of Dniprorudne, a small town north of Melitopol – was kidnapped by Russian troops on Sunday, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
“Today, Russian war criminals kidnapped another democratically elected Ukrainian mayor, chief of Dniprorudne Yevhen Matveyev. Gaining zero local support, the invaders turn to terror. I call on all states and international organizations to stop Russian terror against Ukraine and democracy,” Kuleba wrote on social media.
THE CNN could not independently confirm the claim.
And in the southern city of Kherson, a political battle is underway to prevent the occupied city from turning into a pro-Russian breakaway republic. Ihor Kolykhaiev, the mayor of Kherson, said mass protests show that “Kherson is Ukraine” and insisted he retains administrative control of the city.
In a video shared on Facebook, Kolykhaiev said: “The city is living in normal mode, the City Council is working, all deputies are working, all public service establishments are working. Kherson is Ukraine.”
Kherson has been occupied by Russian forces since March 3. In recent days, at least one official from the city’s regional council has warned that the occupying forces were laying the groundwork for the “People’s Republic of Kherson”.
On Sunday, hundreds of protesters filled the city’s streets to protest alleged Russian plans. The mayor said it was a “peaceful protest to show the citizens’ position”.
Alluding to reports of Russian political manoeuvring, Kolykhaiev warned that “there seem to be talks behind the scenes, and people who want to change the political structure of our country and southern Ukraine are trying to influence this situation.”
As Russian forces invade other major Ukrainian cities, challenges in occupied locations could signal a long and uphill battle for Moscow to consolidate political power, if it succeeds in its military objectives.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation of Ukrainians in the occupied cities continues to deteriorate. Kolykhaiev said Kherson had been cut off from humanitarian aid and was running out of resources less than two weeks into his occupation.
He said the city “cannot receive humanitarian cargo. Food is running out in stores, we are running out of gas, we only have diesel at gas stations. We are running out of medicine and insulin.” “Our main weapon is unity,” he said.
Source: CNN Brasil
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