‘Putin, help us!’ Protesters in southern Russia demand compensation after dam breach causes thousands of homes to flood

On April 5–6, heavy rainfall and spring snowmelt caused a dam in Russia’s southern Orenburg region to collapse in two places, resulting in a flood that has destroyed thousands of homes in the city of Orsk. Despite public admonitions from regional authorities, hundreds of people gathered in front of the city administration building on Monday to demand financial compensation for the damage. Here’s how the demonstration unfolded.

On Friday evening, unusually heavy rain and melting snow in Russia’s Orenburg region ruptured a dam in the city of Orsk, causing at least hundreds of homes on one bank of the river to be flooded. The following day, a second breach occurred on the opposite bank. According to the latest reports, nearly 7,000 homes in Orsk have been destroyed.

The Russian authorities have declared a state of emergency in the region, with Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov calling the situation “critical” after flying to Orsk. As of Sunday afternoon, at least 4,000 people had been evacuated. Medical facilities in the region have temporarily stopped performing elective surgeries to preserve resources for urgent procedures as multiple hospitals have been flooded.

On Monday, Orsk residents began protesting outside of the city’s administration building, demanding compensation payments for their lost homes. Demonstrators chanted “Putin, help us!” and “Shame on you,” addressing the local authorities.

The protests broke out despite warnings from the Orenburg Regional Prosecutor’s Office, which called on residents to abstain from unauthorized rallies, “especially under the current state of emergency.” When protesters first began gathering, police tried to disperse them, calling over a megaphone for them to “stop the illegal activity.” Their efforts failed, however, and people remained at the scene.

Soon after, Orsk Mayor Vasily Kozupitsa attempted to address the crowd, but the protesters repeatedly interrupted him with questions about compensation payments. Eventually, a smaller group of protesters was invited inside to meet with Orenburg Governor Denis Pasler.

Inside the administration building, Pasler initially demanded that attendees give up their phones for the duration of the meeting. The residents, however, refused, saying that they wanted to be able to prove what had been said during the meeting and that they didn’t trust the press not to manipulate its footage. Finally, according to local media, the residents were allowed to film the discussion.

Your help can be the bridge to hope for many in Russia. Join Meduza in its mission to challenge censorship with the truth. Donate today.

After the meeting, Pasler announced that all flood victims who are not staying in temporary accommodations will be given 10,000 rubles ($108) per month for housing each month for the next six months, and that a commission will be created to assess the scale of the damage and determine the size of the necessary compensation payments. Additionally, he said, businesses affected by the flooding will receive money to pay their employees. He also vowed to rebuild the breached dam.

The local news outlet Ural56 reported that the crowd outside the administration building began to disperse while the meeting with the governor was taking place. The outlet Orsk.ru, however, said that the protesters were not leaving. One demonstrator, asked whether he was satisfied with the authorities’ willingness to hold a meeting, responded, “No, of course not. We’re talking to people and to you [journalists,] and meanwhile, the governor left.”