Ukrainian mayor allegedly kidnapped by Russian forces visited Springfield in 2018

The mayor of Melitopol, Ukraine, who was allegedly kidnapped by armed Russian soldiers Friday, was part of a delegation that visited Springfield in 2018.

Melitopol, in southeastern Ukraine, had a population of 150,000 before the Russian invasion began a little over two weeks ago.

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Ivan Fedorov was part of the U.S.–Ukraine Foundation Open World Delegation that visited Springfield in February 2018.

Fedorov attended a Springfield City Council meeting and had a private meeting with Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder.

According to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, Russian forces put a plastic bag over the mayor's head when they abducted him.

The parliament's official Twitter account said the mayor was taken when he was at the city’s crisis center dealing with supply issues Friday afternoon.

Fedorov visited Springfield with five other delegates, a facilitator and an interpreter, said Barbara Malany. Malany and her husband, LeGrand "Lee" Malany, both Rotarians, hosted Fedorov during his visit here.

Malany remembered Fedorov as "very astute, very scholarly and very intelligent" and someone who was highly interested in studying the mayoral and aldermanic system. Fedorov, Malany said, wasn't mayor at the time of his Springfield visit, but was elected in 2020.

"The Ukrainians in that group were so enamored with the interaction of the public with government," Malany said. "(They) loved what our democracy offers and wanted to replicate the whole democratic process."

Langfelder added that delegates were also keen on how the local government interacted on the state and federal levels.

"And, of course, the economy always came up (as a topic of discussion)," Langfelder added.

Janet Kenney, chairman of the Springfield Commission on International Visitors, said delegations like the one Fedorov was part of spend about 40 hours in business meetings during their 10-day visits, supplemented by other evening activities.

The groups also spend several days in Washington, D.C., Kenney said. Springfield is one of about 80 or so cities part of the International Visitors Leadership Program.

Kenney, who visited Ukraine in 2013, said a Ukrainian flag from Fedorov's delegation sits on the desk of her late husband, Dr. Charles "Bud" Kenney II, as a reminder of the delegation's 2018 visit.

"Our heart breaks (over the current situation)," Kenney said.

Langfelder recalled how the situation in Ukraine is personal for him. Langfelder's father, the late Ossie Langfelder who served as mayor from 1987 to 1995, was able to flee Austria in 1938 as the German army was invading.

"My Incredible Journey" is an account of Ossie Langfelder's escape from Austria with several family members.

"We don't know what's going to happen with Ukraine, but what's next after that?" Langfelder said. "Are they going to stop there? That should be concerning for everybody.

Related: Sascha Millard speaks about Ukraine, his homeland

"These are atrocities are happening before our eyes. We should be supportive of all efforts to help Ukraine. That's my personal opinion."

Langfelder said the city may work with groups to hang banners downtown with colors of the Ukrainian flag or plant sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine, on the Y Block.

Malany said she was following several delegates from Ukraine, like Fedorov, who had visited Springfield.

"I consider them some of my own," she said.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Mayor of Melitopol, Ukraine allegedly kidnapped visited Springfield IL