Zelensky asks Israeli PM to help release Melitopol mayor.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to help release Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov and local public figures captured by Russian forces.

Zelensky announced this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"Continued dialogue with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. We talked about Russian aggression and the prospects for peace talks. We must stop repressions against civilians: asked to assist in the release of captive mayor of Melitopol and local public figures," he said.

Earlier, Zelensky told foreign journalists that he had called French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda and asked them to talk to Putin about Fedorov's release.

On March 11, a group of armed Russian servicemen abducted Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov. The invaders said he had been detained by "LPR militiamen." He is charged with "financing terrorism."

According to Zelensky, Fedorov is probably being tortured and forced to declare his support for the "Russian world" on video.

On March 12, the occupiers "appointed" Halyna Danylchenko, a deputy of the Melitopol City Council from the Opposition Bloc, to the post of mayor.