The mass destruction of livestock in Siberian villages has become a rare case in which pro-war commentators openly questioned the actions of the Russian authorities. Telegram channels have accused the Agriculture Ministry, regional officials and the police, calling the events “lawlessness” and a blow to small farmers.
In the village of Kozikha, where residents had tried to resist the cull, all animals were ultimately put down. Darya Mironenko, the daughter of local farmers, said her family also agreed to hand over their livestock for destruction under the stated pretext of combating rabies and pasteurellosis. She said that “Kozikha is finished” and that her parents had “also given up.” In the village of Chernokurya, livestock belonging to farmer Pyotr Polezhayev was also destroyed after he had earlier driven off veterinarians and security officers by pouring gasoline over himself and threatening self-immolation. In Novopichugovo, animals were likewise killed despite residents’ protests.
The cull has been going on for a second month. Farmers are told there is a “dangerous disease,” but, according to local residents and pro-war commentators, they have not been shown any supporting documents. Against that backdrop, theories have spread about a foot-and-mouth outbreak and about possible benefits for large agricultural holdings.
The author of the “Trinadtsatyy” channel wrote on March 21 that the Agriculture Ministry, Rosselkhoznadzor and governors did not care about “ordinary people” and suggested that the mass cull could benefit companies such as Miratorg. The “Boyevoy Rezerv” channel said local agricultural holdings and officials would profit, and that carcasses lay near homes for days before being burned.
“My vaccinated animals were not even tested, so there is no proof they are sick. I also have not seen the governor’s decree. I was told it is secret. The disease itself is also secret,” said Anton Dolzhenko, a resident of Chernokurya and a participant in the war in Ukraine, in a video.
Z-blogger Alexey Zhivov, commenting on Dmitry Peskov’s statement that this was not merely “local excesses,” concluded that the federal Agriculture Ministry was directing the process. In his view, that makes the theory of a crackdown on small producers more plausible. Anastasia Kashevarova and the ZERGULIO channel also criticized the authorities, describing the situation as a display of disorder, negligence and official arrogance.
On March 21, serviceman Ivan Otrakovsky wrote that residents of Kozikha were under intense pressure, posted videos from the village and said the system had to be changed, “otherwise we will end up in the place of the cattle.” He was later detained and fined 4,000 rubles for disobeying police. The only notable Z-author to lean toward the official version was Roman Alyokhin, who welcomed federal intervention and compensation payments but said they should have been announced immediately.