Igor Kolykhaev, the mayor of Russian-occupied Kherson, said the mass protests showed “Kherson is Ukraine” and insisted he retain administrative control of the city.
Speaking in a video posted on Facebook on Sunday, Kolykhayev said: “The city is living normally, the city council is working, all deputies are at work, all utilities are working. A flag is flying in front of the Kherson City Hall. Kherson is Ukraine.”
Kherson has been occupied by Russian troops since March 3. In recent days, at least one Kherson regional council official has warned that the occupying forces are laying the groundwork for the creation of a “Kherson People’s Republic.”
Earlier Sunday, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of the Russian-occupied city to protest Russia’s alleged plans. The mayor said it was “a peaceful protest to show that the position of the citizens is that Kherson is Ukraine.”
Referring to reports of Russian coercion, Kolykhaev warned that “it seems that negotiations are underway behind the scenes, and people who want to change the political structure of our country and southern Ukraine are trying to influence this situation.”
The mayor also said the city was cut off from humanitarian aid and resources were running out.
He said that the city “cannot accept humanitarian aid here, food is running out in stores, gasoline is running out, only diesel fuel is left at gas stations. We’re running out of medicine and insulin.”
“Our main weapon is unity,” he added.