The mayor of Bohodukhiv denied rumors that the authorities were leaving the city
Vladimir Belyi, the mayor of Bohodukhiv in the Kharkiv region, has denied reports circulating on social media. The reports claimed that local authorities had fled the city, which has been under heavy Russian attack in recent days.
He wrote about this on Facebook.
“When dirty disinformation appears in the media today and someone tries to sow despair, drive a wedge between us and the military, and discredit the authorities—remember the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Back then, rumors were also spread that the ‘mayor had fled’ and the ‘city had been surrendered.’ It was a lie then—it’s a lie now. I am here. The city council is here. Utility workers are working under shelling. Just as in February 2022, and just as today—we are not fleeing. They tried to divide us back then—it didn’t work. It won’t work now either. Panic is the enemy’s weapon, and we won’t give them that advantage,” the post reads.
At the same time, Belyi acknowledged that the community lacked official information.
“Yes, perhaps communication was insufficient due to security restrictions. We do not report on every move so as not to give the enemy a target. But starting today, we are stepping up our communications. The city is alive. The city is fighting. We are working to strengthen our defenses together with the military and the military administration, but everyone must hold their own front. Do not trust anonymous Telegram channels that seek to blame their own people. Trust the facts and official sources. Our unity is the only thing the enemy cannot destroy with its drones and missiles,” the mayor emphasized.
According to Belyi, the Bohodukhiv community has been under fire for the fifth consecutive day.
“In just four days, 110 drones have caused more destruction in the community than in all the years of the full-scale invasion. The enemy is targeting residential buildings, gas stations, and critical infrastructure. This is outright terror, aimed at breaking us from within,” the mayor noted.
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