Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The Russian public is starting to feel what it’s like to be under continuous drone attacks.
The Russian public is starting to feel what it’s like to be under continuous drone attacks.
What is happening?
A woman living in Russia’s Belgorod region, near the Ukrainian border, described her life as “simply hopeless” during a call intercepted by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR).
The recording, shared on Oct. 13, captures the resident recounting a large Ukrainian drone strike and her growing fear and uncertainty about what comes next.
“Dozens of drones” fly overhead in startling attack
In the intercepted call, the Belgorod resident explains that she witnessed “dozens” of drones flying overhead.
“Can you imagine?! I look and it’s flying. Where will it fly, and what will it do, what is it targeting? It’s simply hopeless,” she says, sounding overwhelmed.
She adds, “Another day has passed, and glory to God… We’ve lived to see this, well done.”
Authenticity unconfirmed
The Kyiv Independent, which reported on the intercepted conversation, noted it could not independently verify the call’s authenticity.
However, similar testimonies and increasing incidents suggest residents in Russia’s border regions are feeling the impact of Ukraine’s retaliatory strikes.
Belgorod: A launchpad for Russian attacks
Belgorod Oblast, which borders Ukraine’s Sumy, Kharkiv, and Luhansk regions, has been used frequently as a staging ground for Russian offensives.
This has made the area a likely target for Ukrainian counterstrikes, leading to growing instability and fear among its population.
Ukraine warns of retaliation against Russian energy sites
In response to Russia’s repeated targeting of Ukraine’s power grid and essential infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Kyiv will retaliate.
With winter approaching, he cautioned that Ukraine would strike back at Russia’s energy sector if the Kremlin tries to throw Ukraine into another blackout.
Belgorod suffers from power cuts and damage
Ukrainian attacks in early October have already hit Belgorod hard.
On Oct. 5, energy facilities were reportedly damaged, disrupting power to nearly 40,000 residents across seven municipalities.
Just days later, on Oct. 11, missile debris caused fires and structural damage in the regional capital.
“Depressive” mood growing among Russian citizens
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency noted a growing sense of despair among Belgorod’s residents.
“Opinions among the population of the Russian province are becoming increasingly depressive due to the war unleashed by the Kremlin authorities,” HUR said in its statement.
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, which may have used AI in the preparation
