Putin trying ‘helpless and confused’ as Russians scramble to flee nation
Russian residents are rising more and more angered by Vladimir Putin’s management as they’re pressured to evacuate their houses after pro-Ukraine assaults on Russian territory.
On Friday, border areas of Russia got here underneath hearth once more.
One of essentially the most continuously hit targets of cross-border shelling, Russia‘s Belgorod area, was bombarded by artillery shells and drone strikes in a number of villages, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov mentioned.
At least two ladies died in a automotive, a number of individuals had been injured, and condo buildings, vehicles, energy transmission traces and farm gear had been broken, he mentioned on Telegram.
The Freedom of Russia Legion, one of many teams that has claimed duty for prior assaults on Belgorod, blamed the Russian army for the deaths.
The group alleged the Russian military had mistakenly believed the automotive belonged to the paramilitary group. Thousands of individuals have been evacuated from the area, and lots of roads have been closed.
Air defence methods shot down a number of Ukrainian drones in Russia’s southern Kursk area, Governor Roman Starovoit reported. In Russia‘s Bryansk area, Gov. Alexander Bogomaz mentioned Ukrainian forces shelled two villages, with no reported casualties.
Two drones additionally attacked power services in Russia’s western Smolensk area, which borders Belarus, officers mentioned.
The assaults on Russian territory pressured residents to evacuate however as Russian authorities did not provide you with a coherent plan to guard their residents, Russians began to concern for his or her security and doubted Putin’s plans.
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Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow on the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wrote: “People want to see strong leadership, but right now, that leadership is looking increasingly helpless and confused.”
Abbas Gallyamov, a political analyst and former Putin speechwriter, echoed on Telegram: “The raids in Belgorod completely destroy the myth of Putin’s invincible army. They not only don’t know how to advance, they’re just as bad at defending.
“Nothing can destroy the idea for public assist underneath an authoritarian authorities greater than [weakness].”
In a video posted on Telegram, addressing the Russian government, a student said: “We do not know who will shield us, who will assist us.
“Why do we have to leave the town on our own? Push the front line further [away from us] and save the Belgorod region and Shebekino.”
One resident in Belgorod instructed DW: “We ought to withdraw our troops from overseas territory, return Crimea and the occupied territories to Ukraine; the authorities should care for their very own inhabitants first.”
And one other one who didn’t need to share her full identify, additionally mentioned: “Does our government need us?
“They see individuals from border zones as disposable.”