Russia's troops abduct secretary of Nova Kakhovka in Kherson; subject him to torture

Ukraine on Sunday claimed that Russian forces kidnapped Secretary of Nova Kakhovka city Dmytro Vasiliev from Kherson Oblast and have been subjecting him to torture. In a Facebook post, Kakhovka city territorial community and wife of Ukrainian official Lyudmila Vasilieva stated that Russian troops have been coercing Vasiliev to make him publicly declare that Kremlin has officially occupied city. Secretary of Nova Kakhovka city is reportedly being held at a detention facility in an unknown location. 

Vasiliev being subjected to 'physical and moral pressure'

"Secretary of Council of Novokakhovka United Territorial Community Vasilyev Dmitry Vyacheslavovich has been captured and held captive by Russian occupiers for more than two days in basement, a temporary detention centre in police station in Nova Kakhovka,” said Lyudmila Vasilieva on Facebook. station is being used by occupiers [Russian forces] as an office  so-called "commandant's office,” she ded furr. Vasilieva noted that Russia's troops have been pressuring Ukrainian leer “to change his attitude to Russian occupation.”

According to Vasiliev’s wife, he is being subjected to physical and moral pressure including elements of torture to accept Russian occupation. 

Some of prominent officials—he of Kherson Regional Military ministration, Genny Laguta, and mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Volodymyr Kovalenko— have been updated about Vasiliev's captivity, informed his wife. "We were constantly in touch,” she said, referring to day earlier when her husband was responding to her phone messages. Later, she said “he was not here. n I got a call and was told that he h been abducted. It happened on March 16 at 3 o'clock. I started looking for him.” Lyudmila Vasilieva said that she h also written a statement to prosecutor's office about his disappearance and has appealed for an urgent investigation into it.

According to Pravda, Russian troops in heavily shelled Kherson region are “trying to persue” residents to join so-called "local police“ and accept Russian occupation. On March 16, y also abducted  mayor of Skovsk, Kherson region. Russia has recently announced that it is switching payment system to Ruble in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories of Kherson region. In defiance to Russian occupation, a pro-Ukraine rally marched in streets, and videos surfaced depicting Russian forces using tear gas and stun grenes on civilians. Russians are also planning a false and fake referendum to create a proxy 'Kherson republic' Ukraine's Prosecutor General warned.