“Own” Looters: Why the Residents of Kursk Region Are Not in a Hurry to Evacuate.

In the Kursk region of Russia, which is on the front line with Ukrainian forces, local residents face the threat of looting by Russian military personnel. This creates fear and distrust, forcing people to stay in dangerous areas to protect their property.

Gradually, cases of looting by Russian soldiers are becoming more evident. In a video that appeared online on August 23, three Russian servicemen are seen robbing a Wildberries warehouse. Additionally, there was a robbery of a 'Megafon' store in Glushkovo by two Chechen military personnel.

Local authorities stated that the perpetrators have already been detained. However, residents who have suffered from looting find themselves on the edge as they fear accusations of discrediting the army.

Despite numerous complaints from residents, local authorities do not comment on the situation. The governor of the Kursk region himself declared that there are “no looters”.

Looting is becoming an increasingly serious problem in the Russian army, but no one has yet been convicted for these facts. The fear of looting forces people to stay in dangerous areas, and the fear of the authorities makes them stay silent about the crimes.

The situation demonstrates the complex reality of frontline territories, where local residents find themselves between the hammer of war and the anvil of lawlessness. Moreover, looting continues in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine by Russians.