Fedorov was elected to 6th convocation of the Melitopol city council. In 2015, he was elected first deputy head of the 7th convocation of the
Zaporizhzhia Oblast Council. In 2020, he succeeded
Serhii Minko as the mayor of Melitopol. Subsequent to the actions of the Russian military, the prosecutor general's office of the self-proclaimed
Luhansk People's Republic opened a criminal case against Fedorov. Their investigators stated that he "provided financial and other assistance to the banned nationalist organization
Right Sector in committing terrorist crimes against civilians in
Donbas." The following day, Saturday, 12 March, former city council member
Halyna Danylchenko was installed by the Russian occupation forces with a claim of "acting mayor". On 12 March 2022, the president of Ukraine,
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that Fedorov was being tortured. Zelenskyy requested his release. On 16 March, Fedorov was freed from captivity and thanked President Zelenskyy in a phone call posted online. Some Ukrainian officials claimed he was freed in a "special operation". Zelenskyy's press aide
Daria Zarivna however later claimed he was exchanged for nine Russian conscripts captured by Ukrainian forces; it was later confirmed by
The New Yorker that this prisoner exchange took place in
Kamianske. On 16 April, Fedorov attended Easter services in
St. Peter's Basilica, along with
Maria Mezentseva, Olena Khomenko and
Rustem Umerov, in front seats.
Pope Francis stated "Christ is risen" in
Ukrainian at the service. Shortly after his release, Fedorov visited a number of Western European countries to discuss his recent experiences. in May 2024. On 4 February 2024, Fedorov was appointed
Governor of Zaporizhizhia Oblast by Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. == Awards ==