Joy, worry and fear among the Ukrainians near the Kursk region • TV4 News on the spot
Ukraine’s counter-invasion of the Russian region of Kursk began three weeks ago.
Despite the tense situation, many young people strive to live as normally as possible.
– Maybe these are the last days. You have to live life to the fullest, says Sofia and her friend to TV4 Nyheterna, which is on location in the Ukrainian Sumy near the Kursk region.
Russia claims that Ukrainian forces are about to cross the Russian border in the direction of the city of Belgorod, thus opening a second front after the attack on the Kursk region.
At the same time, Russia is following up on Monday’s intensive attacks against targets inside Ukraine. Attacks that caused several people to lose their lives.
TV4 News is on location in Sumy, where another load of soldiers for this war’s new front inside Russia, four miles away from the river’s edge. The Sumy region has served as a springboard for the Ukrainian offensive, which came so suddenly that even the participating soldiers had no idea.
“That is our hope”
– I was very surprised, it was unexpected. I only realized it at the last second. It’s an interesting feeling to be honest. You understand that you are at war and now you realize that this time you are suddenly the one in enemy territory, says Viktor, soldier and driver.
– We don’t need Kursk as our country. We only need it to exchange it for our own Russian-occupied territories. Our hope is that this new offensive will make things better for our soldiers, says Tatyana, a retired economist.
Although most Ukrainians agree with Tatyana that the conquest of 1,200 square kilometers in Russia’s Kursk region has provided an injection of hope, there are still many here who are concerned about the dire situation
– Bombs rain down on your head, three times more. And every night they fly over us. What is there to hope for? Says Oleksandr.
– I am very worried about my father. I am worried about the situation but I try to stay calm, says Veronika.
“You have to live life”
But despite the tense situation, many young people strive to live as normally as possible.
On a roof terrace, it’s time for drinks while the sun goes down.
– I think it is very important. And now you hardly even sleep at night, so it’s important to relax and somehow continue to live. Because you have to live, somehow. It may be the last days. You have to live life to the fullest, say Sofia and her friend.