On March 26th, Russian forces entered the city of Slavutich in the Kiev region, located 30 kilometers to the West of Chernihiv.
On the eve, the city was surrounded and blockaded by the Russian troops. The administration of the Kiev region confirmed that the city of Slavutich was “isolated”. Clashes were reported on the western outskirts. Several fortified positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed but no strikes have being carried out on the city.
Late on March 25, the mayor of the city confirmed that the Russian armed forces attacked a checkpoint of the AFU in Slavutich.
He added that the city was blocked and it is impossible to leave it.
Despite the fact that Russian forces have been present in the region since the first days of military operations in Ukraine and they were deployed on the vicinity of Slavutich, there was no mass evacuation from the city. Instead of securing the humanitarian corridors for civilians, local Ukrainian authorities have banned residents from leaving their homes, as the Ukrainian snipers were working in the city when the Russian military already approached Slavutich.
Despite the hysteria spread by the media showing the allegedly barbaric military actions of the Russian military in Ukrainian cities, local authorities realize that if the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not use residential areas to start bloody street battles in cities, numerous civilian casualties and catastrophic destruction can be avoided. Despite the presence of the Russian armed forces, the city administrations continue to function normally, while receiving humanitarian support from Russia. This was the case in all Ukrainian cities and towns in the eastern regions of Ukraine and around the capital that are currently under the Russian control.
On March 26, Russian forces entered Slavutich. No clashes were reported in the city. No civilian facilities were damaged.
In order to avoid any casualties, the mayor of the city agreed for negotiations. On the other hand, Ukrainian media rushed to declare that he was kidnapped.
The mayor of Slavutych, who has already been claimed assassinated by bloodthirsty Russians, appealed to the population. He confirmed that he was not in captivity, but held negotiations. He said that the local Ukrainian administration continues to work and now has to coordinate several issues, such as evacuation, with Russian troops.
He declared that local civilians could leave the city, and the delivery of humanitarian aid from Russia will be organized.
In order to demilitarize the city, the population must hand over machine guns and military weapons. Weapons should be withdrawn from all civilian facilities, an inventory should be made.
After the city is demilitarized, Russian forces will leave the city and only checkpoints will be established on the roads leading to Slavutich.
While the AFU have left Slavutich almost without fighting, civilians became the main force for the Ukrainian “media counter offensive”.
A rally was organized. Kiev officials and the media are distributing encouraging videos showing brave Ukrainian patriots protesting in the streets, declaring their fierce resistance to the Russian occupiers. They encourage people all over the country to provoke the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the streets.
In fact, Ukrainian flags are flying all over Slavutych, the footage proves that the Russian army does not react to peaceful rallies until the protesters cross the red lines. Encouraging civilians to fight the Russian army, the Kiev regime is waiting for new bloody shots from the streets of Ukrainian cities to once again show the alleged brutality of the Russian aggressors.
According to local sources and previous statements by local authorities, Ukrainian snipers were deployed in Slavutich. In the current conditions, they may have the only goal to provoke the Russian military to open fire during another “peaceful demonstration”.
Source: South Front
