Melitopol's new “mayor” - believed to have been installed by Moscow - has called on the city to "adapt to the new reality" and stop "committing extremist acts", Sky News reports.

Galina Danilchenko, a former member of the city council, was announced as the new mayor on local TV on Saturday, according to reports.

In a televised statement, Ms Danilchenko said: "Esteemed residents of the town of Melitopol and Melitopol distict…

"Our main task now is to adapt all the mechanisms to the new reality so that we can begin to live in a new way as soon as possible.

"Despite all our efforts, there are still people in the town who try to destabilise the situation, who spur you on to commit extremist acts.

"I do urge you, please, be sensible and do not fall for these provocations”.

According to her, Russian TV channels will start broadcasting in the region. She added that the decision was made due to a "large shortage of credible information."