Moment mayor of Melitopol is kidnapped by Russian troops as hundreds of Ukrainians demand release

Hundreds of Ukrainians have taken to the streets to demand the release of a mayor kidnapped occupying Russians troops.

Ivan Fedorov was filmed being dragged away by Russian forces, with a bag over his head in the city of Melitopol, in southern Ukraine.

Ukraine's parliament says Fedorov "refused to cooperate with the enemy" and was abducted at the southern city's crisis centre, where he was dealing with supply issues.

But soon a large crowd gathered outside the building he was seen being taken from by Russian soldiers.

Some of those who braved Vladimir Putin's occupiers were carrying placards demanding the mayor be released.

Footage shows Fedorov being marched out of the building by Russian soldiers.

"A group of 10 occupiers kidnapped the mayor of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov," officials wrote on Twitter.

"During Fedorov's abduction, they put a plastic bag on his head."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the abduction late on Friday as he branded it a "sign of weakness of the invaders" and compared Russian soldiers to "ISIS terrorists".

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