Belgorod residents reacted harshly to the official mourning and extensive support provided to the victims of the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall in the Moscow region. They claim to 'have such attacks daily.' Since March 12, people have been dying in shelling almost every day; many have left the region or closed their businesses. Nevertheless, Belgorod does not receive significant support from the state. Telegram channel 'Belgorod №1' collected the residents' opinions and shared them on March 24.
Following the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall, Russian authorities declared a day of mourning, banks wrote off the loans of the deceased, and bloggers started donating funds to the victims. This was negatively perceived by the residents of Belgorod, who have been suffering deadly shelling for the last two weeks. Many lost their jobs and had to leave the region or close their businesses; however, the state did not respond to that.
"I feel sorry for those in Moscow, this is horrific, but! We live in a world of double standards. Many say: 'Stop whining, you live in a border town, it is normal'. No, it is not," wrote a woman from Belgorod.
"Moscow: all Russia is grieving, they declare an official mourning day. Belgorod: takes the rap for the whole country, but they cannot even get the town name right. While our residents are perishing, Moscow holds a party and a concert [to celebrate the annexation of Crimea]. No mourning for the victims of 30.12.2023 (when 25 people died in shelling), just New Year celebrations across the country!" shared another resident.
People started sharing online posts with phrases like 'The same people live in Moscow and Belgorod' and 'Moscow mourns on 22.03.2024, but Belgorod does it every day.' Somebody brought a poster reading 'Belgorod mourns! We know how it feels' to the makeshift memorial.
Following the outrage, Russian celebrities began donating to Belgorod residents in need. The Kis-Kis band transferred 100,000 rubles to an organization raising funds for shelling victims. Videoblogger Mikhail Litvin pledged assistance to 10 families with relocation. Singer Egor Krid also expressed his desire to help Belgorod residents.
Unlike them, the propagator Vladimir Solovyev labeled the Belgorod residents’ reaction to shelling as 'disgusting hysteria.' In response, locals suggested that he should walk around the town without a bulletproof vest.
The region has been under regular fire since March 12. Almost all residents of the Grayvoronovsky border district have been evacuated.
On March 22, four men opened fire in Crocus City Hall, resulting in 133 deaths and 140 wounded.