Vladivostok, a Russian city that borders Ukraine, has offered to relocate local families away from the border after a recent spate of clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia separatists.
The mayor of Vladivostok, Igor Pushkarev, has announced a plan to provide affected families with subsidized housing away from the conflict zone, as well as assistance with transportation and other basic needs. The program targets primarily families with children, elderly citizens, and people with disabilities.
The move follows several recent attacks by Ukrainian forces on pro-Russian forces in the eastern part of the country, which have underlined the growing risks of close proximity to conflict zones.
While the offer of relocation may bring some peace of mind to families living in the border area, it also presents a dilemma, in terms of the amount of financial and emotional upheaval of moving to a new place.
In addition to the relocation program, authorities in Vladivostok have implemented additional security measures in order to increase safety in the city. The measures include additional police presence, increased surveillance, and stricter border control.
The city is also organizing support for affected families, with psychologists helping the affected individuals to work through the emotional upheaval caused by separation from their homes and close proximity to the war zone.
Overall, the city of Vladivostok is trying to balance the societal need for stability and safety with a respect for the hard decision that families have to make in order to relocate.