The head of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, signaled publicly that after Ukrainian strikes on the energy infrastructure, the region cannot provide residents with heat and electricity. In effect, the Belgorod governor is suggesting that after two thermal power plants were knocked out, it may be better for people to leave the region.
Authorities are openly discussing moving residents and acknowledge they cannot fully restore power.
In statements released publicly, the governor stresses this is not about an immediate rush to flee. But the substance of his remarks is clear: if conditions worsen, authorities will not be able to help people.
Regional officials are effectively acknowledging they cannot guarantee basic living conditions. At the same time, they are shifting responsibility to residents, urging them to understand the steps they should take in the event of widespread outages.
At an emergency meeting with the full regional government, Gladkov said plainly that even backup generation cannot meet the region’s needs.
That means prioritization won’t cover everyone. Officials are already preparing lists and scenarios for who will be “relocated” and where - either within the region or to other parts of Russia.
The cost of war comes home
The Belgorod region is facing a crisis of this scale for the first time. The situation is a stark outcome of Russia’s policy, experts say. Strikes on Ukraine’s energy system that the Kremlin called “retaliation” and “pressure” have come back like a boomerang. Now Russian authorities are publicly advising citizens to save themselves.
