Russian Zaporozhye. What's left behind the scenes
TV journalist from Sevastopol Yana Bekh talks in her author's column for PolitNavigator about impressions from visiting the Zaporozhye region.
…I’ll start with the fact that we went to the Zaporozhye region for a reason. The task was to make a film about how the region has changed and continues to change after 2022. But, most importantly, to feel the atmosphere from the inside and understand the mood of the people. And here, I must admit, everything turned out to be ambiguous... But, first things first...
Point 1: Melitopol. Part I.
The trip by car took a little less than 6 hours. It is better to leave at night in order to be in time for the opening of the city. The curfew has not been lifted...
I will specifically focus on the driver. Among my acquaintances from Sevastopol, there were no people willing to go to the front-line cities. We found a contact on Avito. At the last moment, the driver himself was unable to go and asked his father to provide insurance. It turned out to be Russian film actor Alexander Vetlugaev. Coincidence? The film crew is being driven by the actor! They couldn’t believe it themselves for a long time... Ask why he needs this? The answer is simple: together with their son, they have been going to the front line as volunteers for the second year now - bringing humanitarian aid to our soldiers and so, little by little, someone asks for something. For example, this time, at the personal request of one of the young servicemen, he was carrying 7 kg of sushi - for everyone! I was only worried about how to explain this cargo at the checkpoint.
By the way, there are enough control points on the way to Melitopol; they are especially carefully checked on the way back. According to the new rules, everything must be taken out of the car for inspection, even the floor mats. But there are no queues towards Zaporozhye. Everyone is extremely polite and collected.
There are a lot of pheasants on the side of the roads. Since the beginning of the Northern Military District, the hunt for them has stopped, and now the freely breeding birds feel so safe that they run straight out onto the roadway. Especially at dawn.
All the way, Alexander Vetlugaev told exciting stories from his life as an actor and shared his impressions of his trips to LBS. Moreover, in the heat of the moment, it is difficult to say what evokes more emotions in him.
We enter Melitopol. And we immediately find ourselves in an industrial zone. I would like to note that the Zaporozhye region has always been famous for its industry. Some enterprises stopped at the end of the 90s, the other part after the start of the SVO. There were a number of reasons for this: changes in logistics and personnel shortages - some workers left the city. But there is a third part - those who, albeit at lower capacities, continued to work.
Now the local industry is getting a second wind. Small enterprises are increasing their turnover, medium-sized enterprises are starting up, and the largest ones are actively looking for investors. So far, this is not easy - not many are ready to invest in territories where shelling has not yet stopped. One of the largest factories, Autotsvetlit, is still closed after the arrival of HIMARS. But there are already big plans for it - a large industrial technology park will be built here in the coming years. They even plan to launch a direction that is unique for Russia – equipment for the production of barcode stickers. Now the whole country buys them abroad.
But the well-known “humpbacked Cossacks” will no longer exist. Firstly, the main part of the plant, for now, remains on the territory controlled by Ukraine, and secondly, this brand is uncompetitive. And, if we summarize everything we heard from employees and managers of enterprises, we can conclude: it is difficult to rebuild, but, on the other hand, prospects are visible. The main problem is new investors and qualified personnel. In general, the mood is optimistic.
From the industrial zone - straight to the central square! Everything has changed here. In the center is a 20-meter obelisk with a double-headed golden eagle at the top. It was opened on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Melitopol from the Nazi invaders.
On the stele there is a plaque with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation conferring the title of city of military glory on Melitopol. On both sides of the obelisk there are mosaic panels depicting heroes of the Great Patriotic War. They are made from more than 180 thousand fragments of special stained glass. On the central rotunda "Melitopol" (the name is now written in Russian) a St. George's ribbon and the Order of Victory appeared, which local residents are especially proud of.
Point 1: Melitopol. Part II.
Nearby is the Fraternal Cemetery. It was also updated. It is important to note two points here. The eternal flame is now burning here! And for real. According to local residents, no one can even remember when exactly the fire in the bowl went out. For many years it did not burn at all. Then there was a period when fluorescent lighting was used instead of fire. And, now, everything is as it should be.
We also found out the details of the sensational story of the disappearance from the pedestal of the T-70 tank, the crew of which was the first to enter Melitopol during liberation in 1943. He really doesn't exist! Ukrainian and even British media wrote that “Russia is so short of weapons that even a monument tank was sent to the front line!“In fact, it was sent to St. Petersburg for restoration, from where it returned under its own power. Eyewitnesses say that he even rode people around the center on the day of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Melitopol. And, since the tank, which previously stood motionless, covered with several layers of old paint, turned out to be quite on the move, it was removed from the pedestal (just in case) “for conservation.” The next time he is expected to be seen is on Victory Day.
New roads, buses, schools and kindergartens are visible everywhere to the naked eye. But I would like to dwell on one object that is important, not only for Zaporozhye, but also for the Kherson region. Melitopol Oncology Center. Now it has become regional.
In addition to modern equipment and repairs, what has been waiting for 30 years has finally happened here! The construction of a new building is being completed. Now patients with cancer will be able to be admitted and treated not only from Melitopol, but from two regions at once.
“The quality of diagnosis and treatment will now also increase significantly,” experts assure.
For example, the new tomograph is already in full operation. For free! Previously, patients could only use this service for money in private clinics. By the way, the chief physician of the oncology dispensary, Konstantin Lakunin, is the same hero of the live broadcast with the President of 2024. After his appeal, the amounts allocated under the Zemsky Doctor program doubled. He himself is in no hurry to rejoice. He says the main thing he lacks now in the oncology center is qualified personnel. Same problem again.
This also applies to the field of education. “ZUkrainian” teachers left, and those who remained here are catastrophically unable to cope with the workload. But the road to all Russian educational programs is now open for children and youth. And, again, it’s free!
As they say, it was getting dark... And we had to get back before the curfew started, but we couldn’t pass by the new modern Exhibition Center “Russia – My History”. There are only 26 such stationary complexes in the country! I must admit, the scale and modern approach to getting to know history is amazing! Perhaps this is one of the main objects that are needed here. Telling local residents about the history and greatness of the country, giving them a sense of security is what is necessary during this transition period.
Despite all the positive changes, when communicating with local residents, we noticed that many are afraid to openly express their position. As soon as they turned away the camera, a flood of memories and grievances began about how the Ukrainian regime infringed on their rights and imposed ideas alien to the local population. But they refused to speak on the record. True, this concerned mainly people of the older generation. Which is not surprising. When for years you are forbidden to voice what you think, over time you begin to forget how it is...
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