The attack in Belgorod, the Russian border province where several paramilitary groups are trying to wrest control from the Putin regime, was met with a combination of shock, anger and indifference by residents of the region, according to six interviews conducted by The Moscow Times journalists .
The state of conflict and tension is nothing new for Belgorod, a border region of Russia that has faced regular bombings and drone attacks since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.
Until now, however, an incursion like the one that began on Monday had not been part of the reality facing the locals of Belgorod. Of unprecedented intensity, the operation, which is said to have been launched by anti-Putin paramilitary groups, has called into question peace on Russian soil, as the criminal regime in the Kremlin wants the war to be fought only on the territory of the state neighbor and only to the detriment of Ukrainians.
“We made a big mistake,” says Pavel, a 33-year-old taxi driver from the city of Belgorod. “Where is the Russian army? I don’t understand,” he continued.
According to Russian officials, a “Ukrainian sabotage organization” infiltrated the Graivoron neighborhood of Belgorod on Monday, and the region was hit by a sustained barrage of mortar and artillery fire.
“Civilians were fleeing in desperation from the bombings. Some of my friends were hurt. The situation was terrible”, says Evgheni, a resident of Belgorod, who, like the others, asked to remain anonymous in order not to suffer the reprisals of the criminal regime in Moscow.
The Russians fear that Belgorod could end up like Kharkiv or Mariupol
At least one civilian was killed and nine others wounded in Monday’s attack, the region’s governor, Viaceslav Gladkov, said on his Telegram channel on Wednesday. Around 550 residents of the neighborhood affected by the violence were temporarily evacuated, also according to Gladkov.
Many of the residents of Belgorod fear that their city will not end up like the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv or Mariupol, devastated by the bloody attacks of the invaders.
“Since the ‘special military operation’ started, there is a feeling that it is possible to lose your house,” says Liudmila, 31, who works in organizing events, using the ridiculous Kremlin-imposed term for refers to the war in Ukraine.
“We always have these things in mind,” she added.
According to a report made public by an independent Russian media source, the conscripts who are going through compulsory military service have been sent to help defend the Russian-Ukrainian border in Belgorod.
Some of the province’s residents question the ability of the Russian military, now in full training to face the Ukrainian counteroffensive, to defend the border as well.
“They said that only the border police are defending the area, that the army is not here,” said Pavel.
In an interview on Tuesday, Governor Gladkov himself appeared to question the military’s handling of the Belgorod incidents, saying he had “more questions than you” for the defense ministry in Moscow.
However, residents of Belgorod told the Moscow Times that they were already used to cross-border attacks in their province.
The intensity and number of mortar attacks and shelling have increased significantly since Ukraine regained control of Kharkiv province last year.
“People are in shock, but there is no panic. People are not leaving, I think everyone has decided to wait and see what happens,” said a woman from Belgorod in a telephone interview.
She admits, however, that “those who support the war feel abandoned.”
Despite the chaos, Russians say they support Putin and his bloody war
On Wednesday, Shoigu said that Russia “will respond promptly and extremely harshly to the terrorist actions in Belgorod and other places.” The Kremlin has not criticized the military’s response to the Belgorod insurgency and has signaled that it is not concerned about the situation, although the way things are developing suggests otherwise.
“Our army, border police and special services are doing their job,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said also on Wednesday.
The attacks were claimed by two anti-Kremlin paramilitary organizations – the Free Russian Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps – believed to be made up mostly of Russian citizens. Ukraine denies involvement.
According to media reports, it is suggested that those involved in the attacks are part of far-right organizations. Locals say none of these organizations will be well received in Belgorod.
“I don’t know who these guys are, if they are Russians who want to liberate Russia. Even if they were, they are not popular. Whether you like it or not, the majority support the government’s policies,” says 41-year-old Anton.
Another Russian from Belgorod confirmed Anton’s position:
“At the end of the day, everyone here supports Putin and the government and the war. Everything that is done against Putin is seen negatively”.
Also Read: NYT: US Intelligence Says Ukrainians Were Behind Kremlin Drone Attack
Editor: Adrian Dumitru
