An armed volunteer group mainly made up by locals is helping reconstruction in a town in Russia's Kursk Oblast bordering Ukraine after the strategic transportation hub was recaptured by Russian force and is recovering from Ukrainian attacks.
In August last year, Ukraine seized a large part of Kursk region in a surprise cross-border attack and now the region is making a rebuilding plan for the recaptured areas.
Located just about 10 kilometers away from the border, Korenevo was seriously destroyed by attacks from long-range weapons and the important railway and road hub is now under the control of Russian force.
Last year's Ukrainian attack forced Korenevo residents to evacuate to safe locations like temporary shelters, and some of them stayed with their relatives.
Previously, the area had a population of about 5,500, but now only a small number returned.
"Now the situation is gradually calming down. People made it through, and most survived. Spring has arrived, and I hope the conflict will end soon so we can return to our homeland," said Alexey Egorov, a local resident in an interview with a reporter of China Global Television Network (CGTN).
The armed volunteer group, helping rebuild the recaptured town, is responsible for protecting strategic infrastructure, patrolling to protect residential buildings from robbery, and reconstructing bombarded buildings.
A team member codenamed Hasan was from Sudzha, a key town in the western Kursk region that has recently seen the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces.
"I have been working in the road construction department since 2007. I was a bulldozer driver at that time. I participated in road construction and brought joy to people. Suddenly, one day, this joy came to an abrupt end. Now, we are still working and are doing some repair work intermittently. We hope to repair the roads in Korenevo, Sudzha, and the entire border region. We have rich experience in road repair," he said.
Another volunteer codenamed Slavs, a father of four, joined the team to fight the fire from the first day the attack began, and his wife later followed him in participating in voluntary work.
"Despite that my family also needs help, I choose to help more people. If everyone only cares about themselves, then who will help relatives and other residents," he said.
The Russian military operation to retake the Kursk region from Ukrainian armed forces entered its final stage, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on March 13.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited one of the command posts in the Kursk region on March 12. Senior commanders briefed him that Russia was close to liberating the territory of the Kursk region from Ukrainian armed forces.
Putin emphasized the urgency of swiftly concluding the operation and establishing a security zone in the region.
Armed volunteer team rebuilds life in Russia's Kursk border town
Armed volunteer team rebuilds life in Russia's Kursk border town
