As the Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk region stretches into its third week, local civilians are expressing mounting anger — not just at Ukraine, but at their fellow Russians and their own government, which they feel has abandoned them and downplayed the severity of the situation, according to Hotnews.
How Could they have Missed it?
Residents of Kursk, who spoke to The Moscow Times, voiced frustration over what they see as government inaction and fears about the war now at their doorstep. For security reasons, their names have been changed.
“People don't matter to anyone,” said Anna, a 28-year-old resident of Kursk, criticizing the Kremlin's response. “To Russia, we’re just a piece of the map. To Ukrainians, we’re enemies supporting Putin's regime. Everyone here is on their own.”
Svetlana, 32, echoed these sentiments, blaming both Ukraine for the attack and questioning the competence of Russia’s armed forces.
“How could [Russia] have missed the buildup of such a large number of Ukrainian troops at the border?” she asked, noting that while locals are frustrated, they hesitate to directly blame authorities for abandoning them.
A Failure of Their Government
The Ukrainian advance into Kursk has reportedly fueled growing discontent with President Vladimir Putin, according to a study cited by The New York Times. The analysis of social media posts by FilterLabs AI revealed that many Russians view the situation as a failure of their government, particularly Putin.
Alongside frustration with the Russian government, anger toward Ukraine is also rising. Residents like Svetlana admitted that feelings toward Ukraine have shifted from sympathy or neutrality to intense fury.
The incursion has resulted in at least 31 deaths and 143 injuries, according to state news agency TASS. Additionally, more than 130,000 residents from border districts have been forced to abandon their homes, with human rights organizations estimating around 2,000 people are missing.
