Russian soldiers holding grenades marched through the Konotop region of Ukraine as the city administration faced a Russian ultimatum to surrender.
The Russian delegation threatened the city with disaster. Footage shows Russian representatives walking near their tanks.
Konotop is a small town in the northeastern part of Sumy.
According to CNN, Mayor Artem Semenikhin was filmed addressing the crowd for the proposal made to him. “I will either hand over the city to them or they will destroy it completely,” he told the crowds.
– Russian commander requests our capitulation, otherwise the city will be destroyed by his artillery. What do you want – to fight or to capitulate?
– We fight!
– If we fight – I want everyone to vote.
– We fight! pic.twitter.com/J52t2UIvt5
– Sergej Sumlenny (@sumlenny) March 2, 2022
A social media video verified by CNN shows a Russian delegation leaving the town hall to face an angry crowd. One of the Russians appears to be holding two grenades as he returns to his vehicle, while the spectators shout “shame”. His vehicle and a Russian infantry fighting vehicle then left.
The mayor’s video addressing a crowd shows him saying: “They give me these terms now: If we start resisting, they will bomb the city with artillery. If you vote for it, we will fight back! “Who is voting to resist?”
A cry of approval is heard, while some in the crowd said that women and children should be evacuated.
Later, Dmytro Zhyvytsky, head of the military administration in the Sumy region, said an agreement had been reached with the Russians.
“The conversation between my representative from the military administration and the Russians in Konotop lasted about 12 minutes,” Zhyvytsky said.
“The agreement is this: There can be no question of a change of government. They are interested in law and order. There will be no troop movement. “The Ukrainian flag is in place,” he said.
“There is an agreement that we will not shoot and there will be no mutual challenges. They remain in place. “Unimpeded passage of public transport and services, ambulances, food vehicles, humanitarian items will be provided”, he continued.
“To ensure city security and control, our volunteers will build additional checkpoints in Konotop,” he said.
There has been no word from the Russian side on such an agreement.
Across Ukraine, there have been numerous instances of political disobedience to the Russian advance, with civilians blocking roads, standing in front of tanks and confronting Russian soldiers.
CNN
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