The ambassadors of Great Britain, the United States, Canada, the EU and Japan jointly condemn the kidnapping of the mayors of Melitopol and Dniprorudne by the Russian-occupation forces.

"Ambassadors jointly condemn the abduction of the Mayors of Melitopol and Dniprorudne by Russian occupying forces. This is yet another escalation of the invasion, and an ugly trend, in which civilian political leaders are targeted," the British Embassy in Ukraine said on Twitter on Monday.

The ambassadors called for the immediate release of all elected officials abducted by Russian temporarily occupying forces, and for Russia to cease illegal, desperate attempts to undermine Ukraine's democracy.