Residents of the liberated Cossack village of Lokni told about life in the village during the occupation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Local residents of the village of Kazachya Loknya in the Kursk region, liberated by the Russian military, told Izvestia about how they had to live during the occupation of the settlement by militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

"In the evenings, when the windows were closed, we played under a candle, so that at least there would be some light, we played word games," said Ekaterina Pravatorova, a resident of Cossack Lokni.

People who wanted to evacuate to Kursk were transported to the city by buses, after which they will be placed in temporary accommodation facilities.

"Right now, refugees who have spent several months under occupation in Kazachyaya Lokna are boarding a bus to go to temporary accommodation centers in Kursk," said Izvestia correspondent Emil Timashev.

Elena Garafonova, a resident of the village, shared that she and the villagers are glad that they can go to Kursk.

"An indescribable [feeling]. I'm glad I got through to my son, and we got out of this nightmare," she said.

"There is a smell of spring and early liberation in the air"

How is the Russian offensive going in the border areas of the Kursk region

On March 12, residents of the village of Kazachya Loknya told Izvestia about the seven months they spent under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to people, the Ukrainian militants promised to take care of the population, but in fact they treated people cruelly.