"People are slowly returning, but we are still living on adrenaline"

In the Kursk region, thousands of people who survived last August's attack by the enemy are still unable to return to their native villages. Drones continue to circle somewhere, a mine danger remains somewhere, residential buildings and the entire infrastructure have been destroyed - there is nowhere to return to. A year ago, Izvestia wrote about internally displaced persons from the border region — they managed to evacuate in the very first days, many found shelter in temporary accommodation centers. Today we met with some of them again and found out if they have found themselves in a new place, how they live, what they hope for, and how they see their tomorrow.

All thoughts about home

One of the largest PVR is located in the dormitories of the Kursk Agrarian University. Refugees live side by side with students in these walls. They left their homes in August 2024, then it seemed - "for two days." But everything dragged on for many months, and, alas, there is still almost no talk of returning to his homeland.

Natalia Konovalova, a native of the village of Guevo in the Sudzha district, lives in one of the dorm rooms on the ground floor with her 86-year-old mother-in-law. By profession, the woman is a primary school teacher. On the night of the invasion, she recalls, tanks began firing at them. People were rushing around, not understanding what to do. At the same time, in the dark, they gathered, about 30 people, and, on the advice of the military, began to leave. The highway was cut, so we went into the forest (the sick old mother-in-law could only move by leaning on a stool, and she walked, kilometer after kilometer). Everything was exploding and burning behind my back…

During our last meeting, a year ago, Natalia was trembling with resentment and could not hold back tears. Not much has changed today.

"Every day is hard," she whispers, closing her eyes. — All thoughts about home. But he's gone already. But I don't see myself in a new place, in any way!

The last inhabitants of Guevo were able to leave it only four months ago, in early May, after the Russian Armed Forces drove the enemy out of the Kursk region.: They survived the occupation, and some were taken to Sumy to replenish the exchange fund. Natalia shares information received from her fellow countrymen on the streets and in the forests, at that time there were many bodies of the dead. The village itself has been wiped off the face of the earth. Of course, there is no longer any question of going back.

To calm her nerves, Natalia embroider crosses, creates whole paintings. And she walks and goes out of town, she really misses nature. In August, it became known that a certificate for the purchase of housing had been allocated for her. You will have to pay extra, but there is an opportunity to purchase an apartment in a new building, the paperwork is underway. However, the woman sighs, there is no joy at all.

The danger does not recede

Rosa Moskovka is from the village of Korenevo. On the very first day of the invasion, still not understanding anything, she forced her student son to leave for Kursk. She and her elderly mother managed to get out of the blazing regional center three days later — volunteers helped. The women took with them only a bag with documents, medicines and a couple of summer clothes.…

In Korenevo, Rosa worked for a regional newspaper. At his new place, he continues to write articles about fellow countrymen (all the "districts" are now published in Kursk), and also works in one of the departments at the Agrarian University, the rector of the university helped many immigrants with their work.

She visited Korenevo only once this year, in May. I saw with my own eyes that there was only one burnt-out box left from my mother's apartment building (the mother's certificate has not yet been allocated). His own apartment on the next street is more or less intact, although a shell flew into the house itself. I looked into the cottage, cut the roses, and took the potatoes out of the cellar. I searched for Lord's dog, which was left behind a year ago, but, unfortunately, with no result.

The danger in the village is indicated by the fact that drones are circling continuously, including the so-called "wings" with large warheads: recently, a saleswoman in a store died after an attack by one. The streets, gardens, and fields are full of "petals" and "bells." In the village, it is better to walk only on asphalt. Garbage is not taken out, as a result, landfills "shoot" mines during fires.

— At the same time, people are slowly returning. But you have to live on adrenaline," explains Rosa.

In Kursk, they rent a house in the Zheleznodorozhny district with their son and mother. A month ago, a Ukrainian drone struck near them at night. We woke up to a bang and the next nine—storey building was attacked. A fire started, and smoke covered the block. A woman, a mother of two children, died in the affected house, 10 people were injured. Ironically, displaced people from Suji also lost their homes — they had just bought an apartment here with a certificate. The danger does not recede, is all my interlocutor has to state.

Rosa has no plans to return to Korenevo. There are no conditions. And they've already settled in Kursk. This is the present, and probably the future, she says.

Let's go at your own risk

Spouses Anna and Andrey Shapkin are from the village of Korenevo, which is next to the village of the same name: in August 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were able to break into it, but they were quickly knocked out. Together with their youngest son, they live in the PVR. The eldest recently got married, rents an apartment, and two weeks ago a new addition appeared in the new family — a granddaughter, Alice, so the Shapkins have a real holiday.

They left the village on August 6, the very first day. In Korenevo, both worked in the village at a low-voltage equipment factory (which, unfortunately, was destroyed by the enemy back in July). After the evacuation, Anna got a job as a cook, and Andrey as a toolmaker. The youngest son is studying at a technical college, the eldest is in graduate school. It would seem that life is well-established. But, they say, they still don't feel at ease in Kursk.

"We're country people. We got used to the land, to the farm, the vegetable garden, the garden," Anna shakes her head. — I can't imagine that we will live in Kursk for the remaining years. No ...

Andrey and his eldest son were able to get to the village for the first time in November last year, when our troops drove the Ukrainian Armed Forces 15-20 km away from Korenevo. Let's go at our own risk. We checked the house. And then they found the abandoned Squirrel cat. The pet had been eating forage for three months, lost weight, limped, but survived. When she saw the owners, she literally threw her arms around their necks. They brought the cat home and went out. The very first thing we bought for her was a comb and a collar with a bell.

The next visit took place this May. Andrey's parents said, "Let's go back! Let him fly and whistle. We can no longer live in other people's walls..." The house in the village turned out to be intact, apart from broken windows and minor damage, it is possible to live. The 73-year-old father burst into tears as soon as he entered the yard. The old people decided that they would definitely stay for the winter. The children later brought them a boiler for heating, ordered firewood and coal. Twice a month, food is delivered — bread, meat, cereals, canned goods. There are no shops in the village yet, but you are not in the neighboring village.

— If our company had been working, we would have returned too, without hesitation, — say Andrey and Anna Shapkin. — But we believe that we will definitely move anyway. This thought warms and gives strength.