Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs
A group of displaced residents from Russia’s southwestern Kursk region held a protest on Tuesday over what they claimed was the local governor’s refusal to meet with them and offer more comprehensive support amid ongoing clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
More than 150,000 residents of border towns and villages in the Kursk region were forced to evacuate their homes after Ukrainian troops launched a surprise incursion in early August. Since then, displaced residents have staged multiple protests, describing poor temporary accommodations and a lack of government compensation for lost and damaged property.
“It’s been almost half a year since we were thrown out onto the street into a complete unknown,” one woman said in a video shared by local media. “We have no permanent place to stay… our children are forgetting what home is, and the region’s authorities refuse to acknowledge our growing problems.”
The woman accused Kursk region officials of intentionally delaying support, pointing out that President Vladimir Putin had publicly assured citizens that the government would fund recovery efforts.
“The president of Russia said the region [Kursk] has no problems with funding… and yet we are constantly told: ‘We have no money’,” the woman said.“It feels like the government doesn’t need us,” she added, calling for a face-to-face meeting with Alexander Khinshtein, the newly appointed acting governor of the Kursk region.
news
Russian Army Claims Liberation of Over 60% of Occupied Kursk Territory
Read more
Flanked by other displaced residents from the region’s Glushkovsky district, the woman criticized Khinshtein for avoiding direct engagement with their community. “Stop hiding from us behind the backs of initiative groups,” she said.
Local media reported that the residents were told Khinshtein was unable to meet with them after getting sick.
Since his appointment last month, Khinshtein has held several meetings with displaced residents, but he has dismissed some of their demands as “unfair.” His predecessor, Alexei Smirnov, was reportedly sacked over his apparent inability to manage emergency relief efforts following Ukraine’s surprise incursion.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military gains in the Kursk region have reportedly stalled amid reinforcements from Russia, including troops from its ally North Korea. Russia’s Defense Ministry said last week that its forces had reclaimed over 60% of the territory in the region initially occupied by Ukrainian forces.
During his end-of-year press conference in December, Putin declined to specify when the Kursk region would be fully “liberated.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Continue
Not ready to support today? Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.
We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy.
