In southern Ukraine, Russian occupiers are tightening the screws

DNIPRO, Ukraine—Russia is consolidating its grip on the occupied territories of southern Ukraine, installing pro-Moscow leaders, hunting down dissidents and dismantling Ukrainian state institutions.

The city of Melitopol, like many others in the area, now flies red, blue and white Russian flags on public buildings. Russian security forces are patrolling the streets and soldiers are manning checkpoints, inspecting people’s identification documents and searching the contents of their cellphones, local residents say.