Once dreaming of living by the sea, now mass-selling apartments and fleeing back. Russians who moved to Crimea after the occupation are disappointed by the heat, lack of jobs, air raid alarms, and Russian military bases, OBOZ reports. 

Real estate agents in Crimea confirm: more than half of new property owners are trying to sell or rent out their apartments.

“Residents from Siberia, the Urals, even Moscow suburbs increasingly contact us asking to sell or rent out their property,” says Kseniia, a Crimean realtor speaking anonymously.

When you start working with them, it turns out they have lived here for a year or two, some even five years, but concluded Crimea is not for them. The reasons vary, from the climate not suiting them to military actions, she continues.

Many Russians came here to live peacefully by the sea, enjoying the fruits and beaches, but reality turned out differently.

Constant air raid alarms, explosions, military equipment on the streets, and frequent inspections create an atmosphere of ongoing tension.

“Neither they nor their children can endure constant air raid alarms, let alone explosions. Some told me their children start to panic. They are irritated by the military bases literally scattered across the Southern Coast of Crimea,” Kseniia adds.

Besides military issues, Crimea lacks decent jobs with reasonable salaries. The tourism business has shrunk due to the war, and most office workers and managers simply cannot find work here.

“If you’re a plumber, electrician, mechanic, builder, or air conditioner technician, you can find work here. But salaries will be Crimean, not Moscow level,” says Mykola, a resident of Yalta.

Infrastructure and healthcare problems also do not contribute to comfortable living. Crimea lacks international chain stores, and medical services are often expensive and inaccessible.

“Corruption thrives in medicine, nobody pays attention to medical insurance here, and you have to buy medicine and even bandages out of pocket,” reads the report.

Local Crimeans also have a negative attitude toward the newly arrived Russians, blaming them for price hikes, pollution, and uncivilized behavior. The Russians, in turn, call locals rude and backward.

Add to this the harsh Crimean climate, with intense heat in summer, cold, rainy winters, mud everywhere, and sea storms, and it becomes clear why many hurry to return home.

For now, Crimea remains a place for summer vacation for most Russians, and their dream of a peaceful life by the sea has yet to come true.

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Overnight drone attacks from 1 to 2 June, the coordinated assault targeted military and industrial facilities in eight regions across Russia’s western border, causing infrastructure damage and residential fires.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense systems intercepted 162 Ukrainian drones. Russian officials reported shooting down 57 drones over Kursk, followed by 31 over Belgorod Oblast and 27 over Lipetsk Oblast. Smaller numbers were intercepted over Voronezh (16), Bryansk (11), Ryazan (11), Oryol (6), and Tambov (1) regions. Two additional drones were reportedly downed over occupied Crimea.

Voronezh Oblast experienced infrastructure damage when a high-voltage wire broke on the M-4 “Don” highway. Governor Alexander Gusev reported broken windows in houses and vehicles but stated there were no civilian casualties among the 15 drones intercepted in the region. Local residents reported attacks on the Borisoglebsk military airfield, which houses an aviation repair plant previously targeted in January 2025, according to Russian independent media Astra.

In Lipetsk Oblast, a drone crashed behind a three-story apartment building in Lebedyan, causing a fire and shattering windows from the blast wave. Local reports suggested drones attempted to target the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant NLMK industrial plant that produces steel. 

In Kursk, Governor Alexander Hinstein reported damage to residential buildings and other structures, however this information is not verified. Debris from intercepted drones struck the upper floors of a nine-story apartment building on Dmitrov Street, damaging at least two apartments. Two houses in the city’s private sector caught fire, though no official casualty reports were released at the time.

The city of Ryazan experienced more than 10 explosions during the night, according to local Telegram channels. Regional authorities reported damage to vehicles and residential building windows.

Two explosions in the early hours of 30 May near Desantnaya Bay in Russia’s Vladivostok were part of a planned operation by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), according to Ukrainian outlets RBC-Ukraine and UNIAN.

Sources say the blasts targeted the 47th Separate Air Assault Battalion of Russia’s 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade (Unit No. 30926). One explosion reportedly struck a checkpoint, the other hit an area housing personnel and commanders.

This brigade has been actively involved in combat against Ukraine, including documented deployments in Mariupol, Vuhledar, and Kursk Oblast.

Injuries and equipment losses reported by media

According to the same sources, the attack caused injuries and material damage.

“Personnel, military equipment, and special assets were hit,” the reports quoted unnamed intelligence sources as saying.

Citing local residents, RBC reported that at least ten ambulances and an evacuation helicopter arrived at the scene. Damaged military hardware was reportedly removed from the site using Russian military URAL trucks.

Russian media report explosions in Russian Vladivostok in the area of a marine training ground.

It is reported that the road in the area of the incident was blocked, eyewitnesses reported a helicopter flying over the site. Special and emergency services arrived at the scene, and… pic.twitter.com/QUYtRbXumo

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 30, 2025

Russian officials: Gas leak caused the blasts

Russian authorities confirmed two explosions but denied any casualties or damage. The Anti-Terrorism Commission of Primorsky Krai attributed the incident to the ignition of gas cylinders.

Emergency services cordoned off the area, and traffic between Shamora Bay and the village of Shchitovaya was partially restricted.

“The threat has been neutralized,” officials stated.

Tightened security and conflicting accounts

Local media and Telegram channels, including VChK-OGPU and Vladivostok1.ru, reported heavy police and military presence in the area. Roads were blocked, vehicles inspected, and helicopters were seen flying before the blasts.

Witnesses described the removal of large, tarp-covered objects—possibly military vehicles—under guard. The Telegram channel The True Story reported that the location is used for loading and unloading military equipment for naval deployment.

According to Radio Svoboda, Desantnaya Bay may also house a training ground for the Pacific Fleet’s naval infantry, which has taken part in combat operations against Ukraine.