In Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, representatives of the occupation authorities abducted several employees of the “Melitopolski Vidomosti” (MV), according to the local newspaper RIA-Melitopol.
“Armed persons came to the houses of journalists Yulia Olkhovska and Lyubov Chaika, publisher Mykhailo Kumok, and editor-in-chief of the ‘Melitopolski Vidomosti’ newspaper Yevhenia Boryan, abducted them and took them away to an unknown destination. The russians are trying to force them into collaboration,” the report on the MV website reads.
The MV website is currently down, but the media reported the abduction on their Telegram channel.
Representatives of the holding company appeal to the authorities in the city and the country, colleagues from the Ukrainian and international media to speak up in defense of Melitopol press representatives.
Update. According to IMI, the occupiers have already released Yevheniya Boryan. She had been taken away, interrogated, and then she came back.
The publication “Mistsevi Visti – Melitopol” reported on Facebook that the occupiers have released three MV female journalists after having talked to them about collaboration. “The whereabouts of Mykhailo Kumok are still unknown,” the newspaper wrote.
According to the Institute of Regional Press Development, the Kumoks and the Melitopolski Vidomosti team are now safe. The Russian forces have released Mykhailo, his wife Vira, his daughter Tetyana, journalists Yulia Olkhovska and Lyubov Chaika, and the newspaper’s editor Yevhenia Boryan.
Mykhailo Kumok, his family and colleagues were taken from their home by Russian troops for a “prophylactic talk” and to “make cooperation arrangements”.
Melitopol is under the control of the russian troops. The city regularly protests against the russian invasion.
Earlier, the occupiers abducted Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov and public figure Olha Haisumova.