Russian authorities in a city bordering Ukraine are struggling to cope with an outbreak of mass larceny, as panic spreads through the population. Belgorod lies just 40 kilometres north of the border with Ukraine and has reluctantly found itself in the eye of a storm, ever since Vladimir Putin launched his ill-fated full-scale invasion.
The city has been pummelled by Ukrainian drone and missile attacks, which have targeted energy infrastructure and industrial sites in the city, as well as in the surrounding region. Local residents – unlike their counterparts in Moscow and St Petersburg – have felt the full force of war. They have been subjected to many deprivations and emergency situations, as the city has come under repeated attack.
Residential buildings have suffered collateral damage and several people have been killed and injured.
The city has also been plunged into darkness on several occasions, following strikes on power plants and electricity substations.
Local authorities have installed numerous electric generators to provide back-up energy supplies to try and prevent future black-outs.
However, many locals have taken to cutting cables and stealing batteries from electric generators.
The situation has been described as being “catastrophically large” by the region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov. At an emergency meeting of regional officials, the governor vowed to take drastic action and punish the culprits.
“I need every facility to be guarded,” he told the assembled officials.
“Where will you put it? Put it on the roof — [it still]… You just need to act quickly.
“Winter will start in a week or two. So control it as much as possible. We see that they are starting to steal — there is police.
“If we find a culprit — put them in jail. And then immediately restore the generator.”
Last week, Ukrainian strikes damaged the Belgorod dam, leading to an outflow of water, which caused severe flooding in the region.