Russian invaders kidnap deputy mayor of Enerhodar

The Russian military has abducted the first deputy mayor of Enerhodar since the city authorities refused to cooperate with the invaders.

Enerhodar Mayor Dmytro Orlov said this in a statement on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"The occupiers, who did not get any cooperation from the city authorities, committed outright criminal acts. First Deputy Mayor Ivan Samoidiuk has been abducted! We do not know in what condition he is! He hasn't got in contact since yesterday. And today we received verified information that he was cynically abducted!" the statement reads.

According to the statement, the invaders also began physical and psychological pressure on activists in Enerhodar.

Vadym Denysenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, said earlier that one of Russia's strategies is to kidnap people, intimidate and use them as a human shield.

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine condemned the arrests and abductions of Ukrainian officials and activists.