**Residents in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast Faking Drone Damage for Compensation**
A disturbing trend has been reported in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, where some residents are deliberately exposing their property to Ukrainian drone strikes just to claim government compensation. This was revealed by Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov during a recent regional government meeting.
According to Gladkov, locals are taking advantage of the situation by claiming that their villages are being attacked and that their property is at risk. They are then requesting state-funded resettlement, citing alleged fears of ongoing attacks. The governor has described this as a “mass request” for compensation, with some residents even going so far as to roll out old cars from garages in the hopes of getting them shelled by Ukrainian drones.
This practice, which is being encouraged by local residents, has been fueled by the fact that Russia’s Belgorod Oblast is regularly used as a staging area for Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory. Russian officials have accused Ukraine of launching repeated strikes on Belgorod Oblast and the city of Belgorod since the war began.
Gladkov’s comments have highlighted the cynical nature of this practice, with some residents even admitting that they are doing it just to get state aid. The governor has pointed out that many of these claims have no grounds for them, and that local authorities had paid a whopping 15.1 billion rubles ($187 million) in compensation to residents who lost property due to attacks by the end of 2024.
**Ukrainian Presence in Belgorod Oblast**
This development comes as Ukrainian officials revealed earlier this month that their troops are present in Belgorod Oblast, with President Volodymyr Zelensky stating on April 7 that Ukrainian forces had entered the region. According to Ukrainian officials, this move was aimed at forcing Russia to divert resources from eastern Ukraine.
While it is unclear what impact these Ukrainian operations have had on local residents’ behavior, one thing is certain: this practice of faking drone damage for compensation has raised serious questions about the intentions and motivations of some locals in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast. As tensions continue to simmer between Russia and Ukraine, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold.
**Commentary**
The revelation that some residents in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast are deliberately exposing their property to Ukrainian drone strikes just to claim government compensation is a stark reminder of the human cost of war. While the intentions behind this practice may vary, one thing is certain: it has serious implications for the local community and the way that authorities respond to these claims.
As Gladkov pointed out, many of these claims have no grounds for them, and yet they are being used as a means to secure state-funded resettlement. This raises questions about the effectiveness of compensation schemes in times of conflict and whether they are being used as a tool to manipulate public opinion.
Ultimately, this situation highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in how government aid is distributed during times of conflict. It also serves as a reminder that, in war, the lines between truth and fiction can become increasingly blurred, leading to situations like the one unfolding in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast.
