'Vodka Can Buy You Life': Kherson Resident Says About Life Under Russia's Heel

A resident of Kherson, a Southern Ukrainian city under Russian occupation, has opened up about living under the federation's control, including how streets are always patrolled by its troops, and pro-Ukrainians vanish without a trace. Kherson was the first city to fall and is currently witnessing widespread protest against the Russian occupation.

"There are a lot more checkpoints throughout the city, lots of controls. For example, while our buses continue to operate, albeit on a rather sparse schedule, today the occupying troops were stopping them – to check everyone’s IDs," the resident, who wanted to keep his identity anonymous, told The New Voice Of Ukraine.

He added that several men were taken off a bus, "beaten, and taken somewhere" and such things happen. "Maybe someone ratted them out, I don’t know," he added.

The resident said he believes the inspection is to find Ukrainian recon squads who are fighting some 20 kilometers away. "Another one – and I find it more likely – is that they are looking for their own deserters," he said.

He said a lot of people were trying to flee from Kherson to free Ukraine, some to the mainland, others to Crimea, Russia, Georgia or Turkey. "There are a lot of Russian checkpoints on the way, where people are extorted for food, cigarettes or vodka. For instance, Yevhen Hryshyk, a local official, recommended having a lot of vodka and cigarettes to barter with. Those things could buy you another lease on life from the goons blocking the road. On some routes, it can be done with cash," said the resident.

The region is witnessing a crisis, with people starting to face scarcity of food and medicine. "Volunteers are helping seniors, disabled and poor people, cooking them dinners, but they are starting to say that they’re simply running out of food to cook those dinners with," he added.

While activists are "getting abducted and beaten," the local officials, veterans of the war in Donbas, and SBU Security Service employees are in great danger in Kherson. " The mayor of Skadovsk, Oleksandr Yakovlev, has been roughed up several times already. There’s talk that there is now a facility in Kherson, where Ukrainian citizens are held captive and tortured – just like the infamous Izolyatsia in Donetsk," the resident told the news outlet.

According to the resident, Russians were hoping to develop Stockholm Syndrome in the people of Kherson, and were "making some progress." Ukrainian TV is now replaced by Russian broadcasts and pro-Russia Telegram channels are numerous.

That said, he claimed fierce positional warfare is going on near the city. "Our soldiers are relentless, gradually liberating the area, town by town. We understand that retaking Kherson won’t be easy, or quick," he added.

This comes as reports emerge that Ukrainians in Kherson are holding peaceful protests in Kherson, much to the ire of Russians who are using force to disperse the rallies. There is also widespread looting in the area.