live blog
Status: 09/26/2022 05:11 a.m
In occupied Melitopol, the mayor fears that the Russians will invade men. President Zelenskyy praises the progress made by the Ukrainian army. The latest developments in the live blog.
1:03 a.m
Mayor of Melitopol fears Russian recruitment in occupied territories
The mayor of the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol in south-eastern Ukraine, Ivan Fedorov, fears that Ukrainians in these regions will also be recruited for Russian military service. “They will force men to fight in their armed forces,” Fedorov told Funke Mediengruppe newspapers (Monday editions). Men between the ages of 18 and 63 are not allowed to leave his city of Melitopol, Fedorov said. This is a big problem. “We advised our men to leave Melitopol for Crimea and from there travel to Georgia or the European Union. But now the town and villages in the region are sealed off,” said the mayor. Russia does not allow travel between towns and villages. “They will draft our men and use them as cannon fodder. They will mobilize all men, regardless of their age,” said the mayor. He emphasized that similar actions by the Russian occupying forces could already be observed in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The men there had “no chance to say no,” he said.
12:05 a.m
Zelenskyj: “Positive results” in fights against Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi reports “positive results” in some of the heavy fighting against Russia. These take place at various points on the front line, explains Zelenskyj in his evening video speech. A Russian statement is not available.