Kathrine Frich
Belgorod, a Russian city near the Ukrainian border, is facing growing unrest after weeks of drone strikes, blackouts, and mass theft.
As residents struggle to survive without steady power or safety, the crisis has become one of the clearest signs of how the war is reshaping life inside Russia.
City under fire
Located about 40 kilometres north of Ukraine, Belgorod has been repeatedly struck by missiles and drones targeting energy facilities and industrial areas.
Power stations and substations have been damaged, leaving parts of the city without electricity for days at a time.
Unlike Russia’s major urban centres, Belgorod has borne the full impact of the conflict.
Local reports describe civilians enduring long nights without light or heat while emergency services race to contain fires and explosions across the region.
Panic and widespread theft
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed at an emergency meeting that theft of public equipment has reached alarming levels.
Generators installed to provide backup electricity have been stripped for parts, with residents removing cables and batteries to use privately or sell.
“The situation is catastrophically large,” Gladkov told regional officials, adding that every facility must now be guarded.
“If we find a culprit, put them in jail. And then immediately restore the generator.”
He warned that with winter only weeks away, any further loss of infrastructure could deepen the crisis.
“We see that they are starting to steal. There is police. Winter will start in a week or two, so control it as much as possible,” he said.
Flooding adds to crisis
Last week, Ukrainian strikes damaged the Belgorod dam, causing water to spill into surrounding areas and flood several neighbourhoods.
Local media reported that residential buildings and roads were submerged, cutting off parts of the city and worsening living conditions for residents already coping with outages.
Several people were injured in recent attacks, and emergency services continue to operate under difficult conditions.
Temporary generators have been distributed across Belgorod, but many are no longer functional due to vandalism and theft.
Local anger and exhaustion
Videos circulating on Russian social media show long lines for food and fuel, as well as complaints over shortages and poor communication from officials.
Residents say the authorities have failed to provide clear instructions or adequate support during repeated emergencies.
Analysts note that Belgorod’s troubles reflect a growing strain within Russia’s border regions.
Years of conflict have placed intense pressure on local economies and infrastructure, while frequent attacks have eroded confidence in state protection.
Sources: Express UK, Kyiv Post, regional Russian media reports, Reuters.
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
