Mayor of Russian-held Nova Kakhovka reveals harsh reality of life under occupation

He reported it on Espreso.

"Recently, there's been consistent shelling, particularly in nearby Kakhovka. Nova Kakhovka bears the brunt due to being under the surveillance of Ukrainian Armed Forces drones, which the enemy attempts to shoot down regularly, causing suffering for the residents and damage to buildings. As Nova Kakhovka and surrounding areas fall under the firing range of the Krynky bridgehead, there's a constant tension over the city. Ukrainian Armed Forces monitor enemy positions and equipment in the industrial zone outside the city. All this leads to both psychological and physical stress," the mayor of Nova Kakhovka explained.

He further highlighted that streets have been mined, and coastal houses are occupied by invaders. Kovalenko stressed that individuals in the temporarily occupied territory without Russian "documents" face terror and are denied access to medicine unless they pay exorbitant sums.

Simultaneously, the occupiers are gearing up to "nationalize" property left behind by fleeing Ukrainians: "We visited a building with fifteen apartments, of which only three are occupied, revealing the extent of displacement. Consequently, with no rightful owners present, the invaders are conducting an inventory for so-called confiscation and appropriation of these premises. It's outright robbery."

• Earlier, Kovalenko disclosed that so-called Russian presidential elections had begun in the occupied territory of Nova Kakhovka.