Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
He said that it might be necessary to “relocate” people to other regions.
Russian authorities in a border region near Ukraine are warning residents to be ready for temporary relocation as winter outages disrupt daily life.
In a message posted on Telegram, the Governor of the Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Jan. 13 that residents should be prepared for emergency scenarios if conditions deteriorate further.
“This may involve transporting people to municipalities that are able to accommodate such numbers, or relocating them to other regions,” he said in the post when speaking about possible consequences.
No need for panic
Speaking in comments posted on Telegram, he stressed the need for planning rather than panic.
“In no way am I saying that we need to abandon all our belongings and start moving to another region. Absolutely not. What we need to do is understand the sequence of our actions in the event of a complex, emergency situation, when there might be no heat or electricity,” Gladkov said.
He added that officials are considering relocating residents to nearby municipalities capable of hosting large numbers of people, or to other regions if required.
Families urged to plan
Gladkov also encouraged families with children to seek temporary refuge with relatives in areas less affected by outages. He urged parents to send children to places “where there is heat and electricity” if possible.
The remarks followed a major power outage on Jan. 9 that Russian officials attributed to Ukrainian strikes. According to regional authorities, the incident was part of a series of attacks on Belgorod’s energy infrastructure over recent months.
Gladkov has previously said strikes on Oct. 5 and Nov. 8 damaged energy facilities, leaving tens of thousands without electricity.
Translation of the post
Using AI, the editorial has translated the post from Gladkov into English. We have not been able to verify if the translation is completely correct, but the information corresponds with what is being reported by other news outlets.
You can find the translation below the post.
Unedited translation
Yesterday, late in the evening, we held a meeting together with the heads of municipal administrations — effectively the entire government of the Belgorod Region. We reviewed and continued to analyze the difficult situation related to the partial loss of heat and electricity supply, as well as the possibility of further deterioration. We understand that it is impossible to fully restore electricity supply to residential buildings — first and foremost apartment blocks — and to industrial enterprises solely through backup generation. We are developing a list and a sequence of actions that would allow us to respond promptly to emerging challenges and help people, including in cases of loss of heat and electricity. This may involve transporting people to municipalities that are able to accommodate such numbers, or relocating them to other regions.
I am by no means saying that people need to abandon all their belongings right now and move to another region. Absolutely not. It is simply necessary to understand, in the event of a complex emergency situation in which there may be no heat or electricity, what the sequence of actions should be. If there is an opportunity, we relocate and transport children to relatives — to places where there is heat and electricity. If not, then we, as always, are nearby. We understand what needs to be done, and all assistance will be provided. These regulations, thanks to which we have survived over the past four years, I am confident, have repeatedly demonstrated their effectiveness. It is just that on such a scale and with such problems, the Belgorod Region is facing this for the first time. But I am confident that we will cope with everything. At the very least, we have never turned away from any problem and have always tried to solve them together with you.
Of course, we would like to speak and act as much as possible within a peaceful agenda. Starting from September 1, 2026, for the first time, as we understand, we will be the first region to launch a pilot project in 30 schools — the “Digital Child Profile.” This project is aimed at ensuring, through the combined efforts of the healthcare system, education, supplementary education, sports, and culture, continuous improvement in children’s health through maximum monitoring, taking into account the child’s developmental characteristics, current physical condition, and the need to achieve steady positive dynamics in physical health. I am confident that we will succeed. I have met with parents several times. Overall, parents are supportive, although they are observing the initiative quite carefully. It is clear that in the life of every adult, the greatest value is our children. Therefore, we will make every effort to consult as much as possible with parents, teachers, and doctors. I am confident that the goal we have set for ourselves is the right one. And we will try to share as much information as possible about our plans for 2026 — and not only about this project, as has always been the case.
I wish everyone a good day, good health, and kindness.
Sources: @vvgladkov / Telegram, The Kyiv Independent, International Energy Agency
