The mayor of Melitopol was released after being kidnapped by the Russians

On May 11, Ukrainian officials announced the release of the mayor of Melitopol, south of Ukraine, who had been kidnapped by the Russians.

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In a video posted on the Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zhelensky spoke to him on the phone and said that “it is a pleasure to hear the voice of a living man.”

“I am very good. Thank you for not leaving me. I need one or two days to recover and I am at your service to contribute to our success,” Mayor Ivan Fedorov replied.

He was later arrested while in the crisis center of his city to deal with supply issues.

The next day, Volodymyr Zhelensky called his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Schల్lz to help free Mr. Fedorov.

Another mayor of the southern city of Dniprodne was arrested Sunday. The abductions were condemned by the European Union.