Many more evacuated people left Oleshky for Ukraine than for Russia, prompting Putin’s people to wonder why they were so unloved (Ukraine Battlefield update, day 1,712)
As residents of occupied Oleshky rushed onto buses bound for Ukraine, Russia's rattled pro-war influencers scrambled to explain away why so few chose to go live with their Russian “liberators”.
A well-known pro-war blogger revealed uncomfortable figures, prompting a search for excuses. The ceasefire in Oleshky, in the occupied part of the Kherson region, has ended. It is generally expected not to last long and for the situation across the area to escalate. Both sides accused each other of using the temporary calm to strengthen their positions in the area and prepare for fresh fighting.
The first video today allegedly shows a military convoy in which Russia sent reinforcements and supplies. It was, of course, not the only one:
Russia used the ceasefire to move forces into Oleshky. pic.twitter.com/yvlh9RLURb
Some Ukrainian sources fear that Russia may now attempt to ferry small groups of soldiers across to the western bank of the Dnipro, and are certain that the “human safari” in neighbouring, free Kherson will intensify.
For now, however, more attention is being drawn by the fact that the remaining residents of Oleshky have voted with their feet overwhelmingly in favour of Ukraine. Even more interesting is reading what Russian supporters of the war have to say about it. Their explanations vary, with some bordering on the absurd, but none allow for the possibility that the people of Oleshky simply did not want to live under Russian rule.
All the following theories come from prominent Z channels followed by millions of Russians collectively.
Roman Pataj is Head of the Opinion section at Denník N and, since 2022, the author of the Ukrainian Battlefield update. He graduated in political science and has worked as a journalist since 2002.
