Struggling Residents Endure Life in Occupied Luhansk, Ukraine
Novoaidar, a settlement located 60 kilometers northwest of Luhansk, is currently experiencing a challenging living situation under Russian occupation. The town, along with other cities like Lysychansk, Sievierodonetsk, Rubizhne, and almost the entire eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, were captured by Russia during its full-scale invasion in the spring of 2022.
The standard of living in Novoaidar has significantly deteriorated compared to pre-occupation times. The town is grappling with declining electricity and water supplies, rapidly rising food prices, and a shrinking population. Many younger residents have fled, leaving mostly elderly people behind. Housing and local buildings have suffered damage from shelling, with no assistance from the occupying authorities for repairs.
Economically, pensions and salaries in occupied Luhansk, including Novoaidar, are largely paid in Russian rubles rather than Ukrainian hryvnias. This change reflects Russian administrative control after full occupation since 2022. Ukraine stopped pension payments in these areas in 2014, causing economic disruption. The local economy is further strained by the ongoing conflict, population exodus, and lack of adequate services.
Many residents, including villagers and postmen, earn less than €200 per month. Oksana, a resident of Novoaidar, shares her struggle to make ends meet. To earn a normal living, one needs at least 40,000 rubles (around €440/$500) a month. Oksana's father, who still draws a Ukrainian pension, uses a VPN to access the web portal of the Ukrainian pensions office, which has been blocked by the occupying forces.
Jobs in the service industry or construction are the most common in local social media groups. However, many residents, including Oksana, have to seek employment outside of the town due to better opportunities. For instance, Oksana makes trips to Luhansk, Sievierodonetsk, and Starobilsk to buy food due to cheaper prices.
Access to essential services is also a significant challenge. Power cuts and water being cut off are common issues in the occupied zones, as reported by people online and confirmed by Oleksii Kharchenko, the governor of the Luhansk region. In Novoaidar, private doctors must be paid to see patients, and there may not be any available. Hospitals in the occupied territories refuse to treat patients without Russian passports.
The occupation is accompanied by severe repression. Residents suspected of aiding Ukrainian intelligence or resistance have been harshly sentenced to long prison terms. For example, individuals from Novoaidar have received sentences up to 16-18 years for allegedly passing information about Russian military deployments. This fosters a climate of fear and insecurity.
There has also been active local resistance resulting in violent reprisals. A notable collaborator in Novoaidar who cooperated with Russian forces was found dead after being kidnapped, indicating ongoing partisan activity and instability in the area.
In summary, Novoaidar under Russian occupation faces critical humanitarian, economic, and security challenges with deteriorating living conditions, shrinking population, economic hardship under Russian-imposed systems, and intensified repression amid local resistance efforts. Despite the challenges, Oksana intends to stay in Novoaidar despite the decree issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that all those who do not have Russian citizenship must leave the occupied territories by September 10.
- Media discussions surrounding Novoaidar, now under Russian occupation, revolve around the town's critical living conditions, such as dwindling electricity and water supplies, escalating food prices, and an exodus of younger residents, leaving primarily the elderly.
- Influential figures in the sphere of politics, including Governor Oleksii Kharchenko, frequently echo concerns about power cuts and water supply failures in the occupied zones.
- Meanwhile, the realm of health-and-wellness has observed increased challenges in Novoaidar, as private doctors need to be paid to provide medical services, and hospitals may refuse treatment to those lacking Russian passports.
- The realm of lifestyle, food-and-drink, and shopping have options for employment in the service industry or construction presented in local social media forums, while residents like Oksana often seek better opportunities in neighboring towns due to cheaper prices.
