Violetta Orlova 04:51, 14.03.22 UNIAN

Five cases of abduction have now been confirmed.

photo UNIAN

Russian invaders kidnap the leaders of the Ukrainian Resistance Movement.

This was reported by the Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council.

“Starting from March 11, Russian troops have been using tactics that are only typical of terrorists: they are kidnapping the leaders of the Ukrainian resistance movement,” the report says.

During this time, the mayor of the city of Dneprorudnoe, Yevgenia Matveeva, the mayor of the city of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, the chairman of the Melitopol district council, Sergei Pryma, the co-organizer of pro-Ukrainian rallies in the city of Melitopol, Olga Gaymusova, and the deputy of the Zaporozhye Regional Council, Leyla Ibragimova, were kidnapped.

“All these people have one thing in common – loyalty to Ukraine. They refused to cooperate with the enemy, which finally dispelled his hopes for a “meeting with flowers,” the center added.

It is noted that the next step of the enemy is to appoint their puppets to “vacant” places.

“However, the proteges of the aggressor will only face criminal liability for high treason. By resorting to terror in the occupied territories, the aggressor is trying to break the spirit of people and persuade them to a submissive existence. However, Melitopol has shown that the spirit of Ukrainians is indestructible,” the department noted.

Recall, according to the General Staff, the attempts of the Russian invaders to  seize  Mariupol remain unsuccessful – the city is still heroically holding the line.