While the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine is being bombed daily by the Ukrainian army, 30 km further south, in Chebekino, thousands of Russian refugees are pouring in, supported by overwhelmed humanitarian organizations.
In Russia, the situation in the Belgorod region on the Ukrainian border, which has been bombarded daily by troops from Kiev in recent days, is still very tense. In the town of Chebekino, 30 km south of Belgorod, the situation is most worrying for the Russian authorities, as they do not always have the situation in the border area under control.
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Because, contrary to the Kremlin’s depiction, in the Belgorod region not only some villages are occasionally bombed, but also a town of 40,000 inhabitants, Chebekino, which has almost become a ghost town in a few days of its residents. There would only be 200 to 300 on site. All factories are at a standstill, there is no water, gas or electricity because of the bombing by the Ukrainian army and the invasion of pro-Ukrainian Russian groups. Oleg, who helps the last residents who want to leave the city, confirms that “the city emptied in no time. People left in slippers, without jeans or shoes. Most of their papers stayed.”
Chebekino, in Belgorod Oblast (Russia), on the border with Ukraine. (GOOGLE MAPS)
In the city of Belgorod, about thirty kilometers away, the area is cordoned off and forbidden to foreign journalists. But the pictures and testimonies are piling up: Thousands of fleeing residents arrive there, who are being provided with the best possible care by overburdened aid organizations. In Belgorod in recent months we have seen a large number of Ukrainian refugees fleeing from the Russian side; Now Russian refugees are arriving. A shock in this city of 300,000.
The shocked and bitter refugees
The Chebekino refugees, many in the city, are shocked and angry. Shocked because the shelling seems to have been quite intense and many left their homes without taking anything with them. Some feel they cannot return. A woman admits her fear that Chebekino could become a second Mariupol. And then, for many, these residents are angry with the Russian state, which cannot protect them.
“We never heard any support, not even on TV. We always hear about Donetsk, Lugansk or Kherson. But what about us?”
Anastasia, resident of Chebekino
at franceinfo
The army should have repelled these attacks, they should have been better prepared, some say. Others say they don’t understand why Ukrainians are targeting civilians. Svetlana, found in a reception center, reiterated: “The Ukrainian army is shooting at civilians. In Chebekino there are no soldiers, no strategic targets, only houses! We don’t understand why we’re being shot at.” She explains with a confident and indignant expression that the Russian army only has military targets in its sights. She’s not the only one: another resident who doesn’t show pro-Kremlin sentiments, however, makes roughly the same speech.
It’s like some people in Russia are beginning to realize what has been going on in Ukraine for over a year. One Belgorod resident, who isn’t exactly pro-Kremlin, told us: “Some people realize what’s happening in Ukraine.”