The Russian city of Belgorod is experiencing “difficult times,” admits the regional governor
The Russian city of Belgorod, the target of several large-scale Ukrainian attacks in recent days, is experiencing “difficult times,” the region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, admitted on Thursday during a visit to an exhibition in Moscow that is supposed to promote wealth of Russian heritage, including in the occupied Ukrainian territories. “Everyone is afraid,” Mr. Gladkov admitted to the press. “When rockets explode (…), you don’t worry about yourself, you worry about your children.” »
These comments contrast with statements from the Kremlin, which, two months before the presidential election, is trying to show that the conflict with Ukraine has no direct impact on the daily lives and security of Russians. On Tuesday, its spokesman Dmitry Peskov vowed that authorities would do “everything” to stop the Ukrainian bombings in Belgorod.
However, in a sign of growing concern, Mr. Gladkov announced on Wednesday the evacuation of nearly 400 children from Belgorod, a city of 335,000 that is regularly targeted by Ukrainian attacks in response to large-scale Russian army bombings of Ukraine. Authorities have also already postponed the start of the school year to January 19 and, for the first time in nearly two years of conflict, urged residents to secure their windows to protect themselves from possible shattered glass in the event of a Ukrainian attack.
Despite everything, Mr. Gladkow also tried to make reassuring comments on Thursday. “Our mission is to help people,” he emphasized. “We are rebuilding destroyed houses, we are switching to distance learning, but we continue to build new schools,” he assured.
Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov visits the Russia Expo at the All-Russia Exhibition Center (VDNH) in Moscow, January 11, 2024. NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP