Russian soldiers have reportedly begun kidnapping Ukrainian mayors in occupied towns in a bid to replace them with their own candidates.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian government confirmed the kidnapping of Dniprorudne mayor Yevhen Matveyev who was arrested by Russian soldiers.

“I call on all states & international organizations to stop Russian terror against Ukraine and democracy,” foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba pleaded after the Russians took the Ukrainian mayor to an unknown location.

The kidnapping comes just days after the Russian occupation of the southern city of Melitopol and the kidnapping of its mayor, Ivan Fedorov.

In shocking footage, Fedorov was seen being taken to a secret location by ten armed Russian soldiers who reportedly put a plastic bag over his head.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded that the mayor be freed, the fate of Fedorov is uncertain as he remains in Russian custody.

Following shortly after Fedorov’s arrest, the Russian government replaced Melitopol’s mayor with former city council member Galina Danilchenko.

After being unlawfully declared as the city’s mayor, Danilchenko addressed the residents and insisted her job is to “take all necessary steps to get the city back to normal.”

“I ask you to keep your wits about you and not to give in to these provocations,” she added as she claimed that some Ukrainians will try to “destabilize the situation.”

“I appeal to the deputies, elected by the people, on all levels. Since you were elected by the people, it is your duty to care about the well-being of your citizens.”

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