Car bomb explodes in Melitopol, pro-Russian authorities blame Kyiv
A car bomb exploded Monday morning in Melitopol, injuring two, reported the pro-Russian administration of this southern Ukrainian city occupied by Russian forces, which accuses kyiv of being behind this “attack”.
“Around 8 a.m. a car bomb exploded in the center of the city”announced the administration of the city located near the Sea of Azov, reporting two wounded, “volunteers who brought humanitarian aid” aged 25 and 28. An investigation is underway, according to this source.
“This is a cynical terrorist act by the kyiv regime, an act intended to scare the people of our city, an act directed against civilians”accused Halyna Danyltchenko, the new mayor of the city installed by the Russian forces, whose remarks are reported by the Russian agency RIA Novosti.
Melitopol was conquered by Russian forces in the early days of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine. On March 11, its mayor, Ivan Fedorov, was kidnapped by the Russians, before being released a few days later. A pro-Russian administration was then installed in the city.
The city of Melitopol belongs to the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhia, largely occupied by Moscow. It is close to that of Kherson, entirely under Russian control, whose annexation by Russia seems to be taking shape. Russia’s control of the Sea of Azov coastline (Kherson, Zaporizhia and Donetsk), including the port of Mariupol, provides a land bridge to connect Russian territory with the Crimean Peninsula, which it has annexed in 2014.