A guerrilla war broke out in the russian-occupied city of Melitopol (Zaporizhzhya Oblast). After the arrival of enemy troops in February, Melitopol residents tried to block armored vehicles and protested. After the use of force against them, the resistance movement only gained momentum, according to BBC Ukraine.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, a guerrilla movement has been going on in the city since at least mid-March. Last Wednesday, a russian armored train derailed there. The other day the bodies of two occupiers were found in Melitopol.
And last month, a bridge near Melitopol, suppliers used to refurbish the enemy, was blown up.
"This is the work of our guerrillas, our special services and our soldiers. They acted together," said Mayor Ivan Fedorov.
Locals say the russians are struggling to stop the resistance. They search homes and detain people, often at random.
Local journalist Svitlana Zalizetska claims that almost 90% of the city's residents are resisting.
"Some simply look at russian soldiers with hatred. Others sing patriotic songs at night. Some hang posters with Ukrainian flags in the streets," she said.
The occupiers put pressure on Zalizetska to co-operate. After the abduction of Mayor Fedorov, the journalist decided to leave the city. She managed to get to the free part of Ukraine, but the russians began to put pressure on her family.
"At first they wanted to destroy the webpage. It didn't work. Then they tried to catch me. It didn't work again. Then they detained my father and took him hostage to force me to come back and gain control of the site," the woman said.
After the public confession that she no longer owns the site and does not work, the occupiers released her father.
The occupiers are trying to change the pro-Ukrainian views of Melitopol residents.
"If Ukrainians are physically killed in Mariupol, they are trying to break our souls here," said local resident Iryna (name changed). "But they will not succeed."
In May occupiers started to make lists of inhabitants of Melitopol. The mayor suggested that this could be a preparation for a pseudo-referendum.