By Philip Pullella

ROME (Reuters). A Ukrainian mayor said he was subject to hours of interrogations by Russian forces, which lasted almost a full week. He also claimed that he appealed for the help of Pope Francis to end a conflict in his region of southern Ukraine.

“It was a risky six-day period because I understood for Russians that my life and the lives civilians were worth nothing,” Ivan Fedorov said Sunday in Rome one month following his release.

Ukraine claimed Fedorov was kidnapped on March 11, after Russian forces captured Melitopol. This is a region in the south that Russia wants to conquer. It lies west of Mariupol. Kyiv on March 16 announced Fedorov’s freedom in prisoner swap.

Russia has called its actions in Ukraine a special military operation. It made no comments about detention of mayor and prisoner swaps reported by Ukraine.

Fedorov met Pope Francis on Saturday and Vatican Secretary-of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin before going to an Easter Eve service. He said that he asked the Vatican for assistance with Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to ensure humanitarian corridors to Mariupol after it was subject to devastating bombardment.

Major SerhiyVolyna is the commander of Ukraine’s 36th Marine Brigade, which is fighting in Mariupol. He also sent a Telegram letter on Monday asking for assistance from Pope Francis.

“I have no time to tell you all of the horrible things that I witness every day. Bunkers are home to women with babies and children. Everyday, the injured die from lack of medication. He said, “There is no water or food.” Save them.

Fedorov described his arrest by Russian forces at Melitopol’s police department. He said, “They came to my house at night with five-or seven soldiers, and we spoke for approximately four hours. It was hard dialogue.”

‘HALF MY CITY IS WRECKED’

“They wanted me to be an example about what could happen if I didn’t agree with what they wanted,” said the mayor to Reuters and Il Messaggero. He claimed that he was subject to “psychological”, but not physical, torture.

He said that Russian soldiers believed they would be accepted, but that was not the case… which is why they were so angry at Russia.”

“I don’t have any food.” There are no pharmacies. The destruction of half my city is alarming. More than 200 people are missing. “It is unsafe to cross the streets,” he stated.

Russia says it is not targeting civilians. It rejects evidence from Ukraine that Ukraine claims shows atrocities. Kyiv also denies staging them as a way to undermine peace negotiations. Moscow claimed that it started its military operation nearly two months ago to neutralize Ukraine’s militant nationalists and demilitarize the country.

Russian forces could seize Mariupol, Melitopol, and the southern coast to establish a land connection between pro-Russian separatists fighting in Ukraine’s east and Crimea. Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014. Russia claims to have almost complete control over Mariupol.

Fedorov said that he was still in contact with Melitopol’s people and had asked the pope for a visit to Ukraine “maybe he could stop this war”.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, has invited Pope Francis to his country and promised to ensure his safety.

Pope Francis implicitly criticised Russia and called for an end of wars that were unjustified in aggression or invasion. Fedorov and other Ukrainians were addressed by the pope at Easter eve services. The pope stated: “Have Courage, We Follow You.”