thousands of Russians were forced to flee homes near the border with Ukraine under heavy shelling in V region.
Shebekino, city of 40 000 people in western Belgorod region came under heavy shelling for days.
The attacks came after a dramatic armed invasion from Ukraine that forced thousands of people to flee the border villages into the regional hub. of Belgorod.
“We left how (Shebekino) was bombed so that our windows broke,” said Zaikina, a retired engineer, Agence France-Presse (AFP).
She said neighbor in in his thirties, his arm was amputated after being wounded in shelling.
“Many houses were destroyed,” She said.
75-year- the old one said that numerous attacks were hit Shebekino, but never that intense.
“Now they hit center of city.”
Zaikina received in A car with friend and drove 30 kilometers (18 miles) to Belgorod city, where the authorities housed the displaced villagers in local sports site Belgorod Arena.
Moscow appears to be downplaying the situation in border areas, which have come under heavy shelling this week despite local authorities announcing evacuations.
Mayor on Friday of Belgorod, Valentin Demidov, told AFP that about 5,000 people who fled border villages registered with city authorities, with several hundred in temporary housing.
Appeal to Putin
In a crowded sports Arena, evacuees tell AFP they fled Shebekino in panic during breaks of shelling.
“We left as it was small break (between beats)”, said 30-year-old Margarita Nikolaeva
She left with her husband, two children, three cats and dog.
“We were in basement three to six in morning. Then, when it got a little quieter, we in A car” tech the assistant said.
family moved to Shebekino from Siberia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have moved to the safest place in Russia,” Nikolaev ironically.
Nadezhda Retired left Shebekino with her husband “in our old rusty car.”
They took V back roads to Belgorod, because “they were shelling the center of city.”
“That was very scary”, – said the retired laboratory assistant.
Like many others, she praised the local governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, who gave daily updates on worsening situation in Belgorod.
But she had questions for Russia powerful state media – and even the Kremlin – why events in Belgorod is not on the front line of Russian news.
“I want apply .. to our central television so that our city and region would featured No for three seconds to people (Russians) know O us,” She said.
“We people of Shebekino, lost everything.
She also urged “the Russian government, Mr. Putin, to pay attention to us.”
On makeshift beds in V sports arena, there was no end to the evacuees in struggle in sight.
Xenia, 31 years old.year-old shop worker who Not want To give her last Name, left Shebekino with her husband And parents on evacuation bus.
“It’s a hopeless situation,” she said.
She said that the locals in Shebekino “don’t get in” politics of in offensive common an approach in Russia.
She expressed support for Putin’s policy and the Russian army.
“Of course, we hope that somehow everything will be fine, that our guys will win’ she said, adding:
“Our guys will chase (Ukrainians) away and we can return to our homes.”
Evgeny Klyuchnikov, 44-year- the old carpenter woke up and said that it was time to leave Shebekino. up flying rockets earlier this week.
He said that the city was used to random attacks, but now that the shelling has intensified, it is empty.
“We always jumped with noise, but then we slowly got used to it,” he said.
“But this shelling… It’s very, very scary.”
He said he thinks on Russian state to step in.
“If government Not help rebuild no give us housing, we will all be homeless.”
