Kyiv: Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has said that Russians have abducted another Ukrainian mayor.

In a tweet, he was accused of saying, "Today, Russian war criminals abducted another democratically elected Ukrainian mayor, head of Dniprorudne Yevhen Matveyev.Getting zero local support, invaders turn to terror. I call on all states and international organisations to stop Russian terror against Ukraine and democracy. "

He said, "According to the 2014 methodology, Russia is desperately trying to hold a sham "referendum" for a "people's republic" in Kherson. Support among people is zero, so this is complete fiction. Tough sanctions should be imposed on Russia if these plans are implemented. Kherson is and always will be Ukraine. "

Ukrainian officials and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that the mayor of Melitopol, a city in southern Ukraine, was kidnapped on Friday by Russian soldiers who are occupying the city. In a Twitter post, Ukraine’s parliament charged that a group of 10 occupiers kidnapped the mayor, Ivan Fedorov,

Zelenskyy confirmed the kidnapping in a video message late Friday, calling Fedorov "a mayor who heroically defends Ukraine and the members of his community.".

Another regional official, the deputy head of the regional council of Zaporizhzhia, located north of Melitopol, was abducted and then freed a few days ago, according to the Ukrainian parliament.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated in a statement issued on Sunday, "In view of Ukraine's worsening security situation, including attacks in western parts of the country, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine has been temporarily relocated to Poland." The situation will be re-evaluated in light of new developments. "

As Russia continues its attack on Ukraine for the 18th day, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he is ready for talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin, but only if a ceasefire is in place.