Russia acts as a terrorist state taking civilians hostage – Vereshchuk

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Temporary Occupied Territories Reintegration Minister Iryna Vereshchuk in a video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Russia is acting as a terrorist state. I am calling on the international community to treat this country exactly like that, as it has come to our land and is acting as a terrorist, taking civilians hostage, illegally taking the heads of city and district councils, deputies away from their homes. These are not isolated but consistent cases, which Russia has cynically brought to our land,” Vereshchuk told.

In her words, on March 14, 2022, government authorities were making every effort to free Ukrainian citizens, who were illegally captured and detained by Russian occupation troops.

“Meanwhile, the situation is as follows. Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov is held in captivity. The fate of Dniprorudne Mayor Yevhen Matvieiev, who was abducted by Russian occupiers on March 13, 2022, is remaining unknown. The rescuer, Oleksii Danchenko, is held captive at Hostomel Glass Factory,” Vereshchuk noted.

In addition, on March 13, 2022, Russian invaders conducted searches in a house of Melitopol District Council Head Serhii Pryima and took him away in an unknown direction.

Vereshchuk stressed that Ukrainian authorities would continue to make every effort to save Ukrainians and fight against the Russian occupation.

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