This was discussed in the latest episode of the program «Free Our Relatives» with Valeriy Brusenskyi, head of the Nova Kakhovka City Military Administration.
Nova Kakhovka is a city in the south of Ukraine, located in the Kherson region, serving as the administrative center of the Novokakhovka city community of the Kakhovka district. Positioned on the left bank of the Dnipro River, it lies just 80 km from the Crimean peninsula. The city fell under Russian occupation on the first day of the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. Prior to the invasion, Nova Kakhovka and its surrounding area were home to over 68,000 residents. However, this figure has significantly dwindled since then. Notably, Nova Kakhovka is the site of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, which was destroyed by the Russians on 6 June 2023.
Valeriy Brusenskyi: The occupiers have initiated the «first stage of preliminary voting» within our community’s territory. Representatives of their election committee are already visiting homes and streets, persuading people to vote. Naturally, they are accompanied by security guards.
It is challenging to ascertain the exact number of people remaining in the community, as a significant portion seldom venture outside their homes.
Based on our rough estimates, approximately 10,000 individuals are still residing in the occupied section of our community.
Valeriy Brusenskyy: The primary and sole objective for our residents enduring occupation is survival. All actions should be undertaken with caution to avoid unintentionally triggering any unpredictable reactions. Human life is invaluable, and that remains the utmost priority. I earnestly hope not to witness an empty city devoid of its people.
Valeriy Brusenskyi: Our city fell under occupation in the first hours of the full-scale invasion. Initially, the Russians established military control and adopted an amicable demeanor. However, a month or two later, as the situation became clearer, repressions ensued, marked by the first wave of arrests.
In recent months, such occurrences have become less frequent. This isn’t indicative of a reduction in pressure but rather the result of the near-impossibility of engaging in active pro-Ukrainian actions.
All activists have either faced arrest or been compelled to leave the territory, with those who remain opting for concealment in the rear.
Valeriy Brusenskyi: Currently, we are not aware of any filtration measures within the community. In 2022, there were checkpoints with inspections, lists, and «filtration». However, these practices are not being reported now. Although our town is small, with many residents familiar with one another, there are regretfully collaborators who cooperated with the Russians, making it easy for relevant special services to target dissenters. Consequently, in the initial year, all assets were meticulously examined.
Furthermore, there are no longer any torture chambers operational, such as the one at the police station in 2022 where detainees were taken. Following the liberation of the right bank of the Kherson region, the entire coast of Nova Kakhovka became the front line, leading the occupiers to withdraw all law enforcement agencies. Consequently, there have been no detention centers in the area for over a year. If someone is detained, they are transported to other cities, such as Genichesk, Skadovsk, or Crimea.
Valeriy Brusenskyi: We maintain a list of detained individuals, and based on our information, more than 10 residents of Nova Kakhovka are currently in captivity. Unfortunately, we do not have information on their current whereabouts. It’s possible that some may no longer be held, or others may have been released, but we lack any feedback.
According to our records, the latest detentions occurred on 28 September 2023.
Valeriy Brusenskyi: The majority of individuals leaving the occupied territory often opt for European countries. Only a small number return to Ukraine, particularly those who have experienced captivity. Communication from them is infrequent, understandable given their traumatic experiences. The primary focus now is on their physical and psychological recovery.
Those who have relocated to government-controlled territory in Ukraine maintain contact with us due to our extensive communication network. However, our ability to assist is limited, particularly in terms of housing. Frequently, individuals who left with minimal belongings and receive limited aid struggle to find accommodation, lacking the resources to rent it. The situation becomes even more complex when these families include individuals with limited mobility, retirees, or young children.
Regrettably, there have been instances of people returning to the occupied territories simply because they had no alternative living arrangements.
Valerii Brusenskyi: Our community encompasses two villages on the right bank of the Dnipro River, now de-occupied but entirely devastated. Not a single building or communication infrastructure remains intact. Additionally, the village of Korsunka suffered flooding due to the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station by the Russians. Apart from two streets near the forest, the entire village was submerged. Considering these circumstances, we can affirm that three settlements within our community were completely annihilated.
In other settlements, ongoing air strikes have caused destruction and damage, and we consistently document these losses.
Valeriy Brusensky: In the past two weeks, the city of Nova Kakhovka has faced severe challenges with electricity following the destruction of the main substation. The largest neighborhood, Sokil, has been without power for a fortnight. This situation poses significant hardships, particularly for families with children and the elderly. Centralized heating has been unavailable for an extended period, and the city has transitioned to autonomous heating. However, boilers remain inoperable without electricity.
Valeriy Brusenskyi: Not a single school or kindergarten in the city is operational, as the occupiers have failed to initiate the educational process. Despite the presence of children in the town, they have been out of school for two years. In 2022, there was considerable pressure on teachers to resume educational activities. Although all school principals faced arrests and coercion to collaborate, all but one remained loyal to Ukraine. Consequently, all 13 schools in Nova Kakhovka are conducting online classes and organizing the educational process in accordance with the Ukrainian education system.
Valerii Brusenskyi: Given that our town is situated on the frontline, there is no influx of Russians seeking permanent settlement here. Any Russians present usually stay on a short-term basis, residing in Henichesk and Skadovsk. Additionally, Nova Kakhovka does not host military hospitals or occupation administrations due to its designation as a war zone.
It’s important to recall that Nova Kakhovka was occupied on February 24, 2022. On the very first day, attempts were made to establish a civil-military administration under Russian control. During this period, the General Staff of Ukraine noted the active dissemination of aggressive Russian propaganda in the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson region. By promoting pro-Russian messages, the occupiers aimed to garner support from the local population. In late spring, the enemy implemented an administrative and police regime in the Kherson region, establishing commandant’s offices to maintain «order» in the temporarily occupied settlements.
In November 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the right-bank part of the Kherson region from the occupiers, transforming Nova Kakhovka from a rear-guard town to a front-line town. Presently, the temporary occupation of towns and villages on the left bank of the Kherson region persists.
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