Locals talk about situation in Gorbakha after Ukrainian missile incident

BREST, 30 December (BelTA) - All services responded promptly. Thanks to the Belarusian media, we have avoided provocations around the incident with the missile, Deputy Chairman of the Ivanovo District Executive Committee Grigory Sysa told BelTA.

"All services responded quickly. I extend special thanks to journalists. The situation did not give rise to rumors or lead to provocations and I credit you for this,” he noted addressing representatives of mass media.

In Gorbakha itself, where the wreckage of a Ukrainian missile landed the day before, everything is calm today. In the morning people went to work, got busy with their routine household chores.

"Everything is absolutely calm here. I wouldn't say it was nervous yesterday either. Of course, the situation is out of the ordinary. People did have a surge of fear, because the situation was frightening. I was at work late yesterday night talking to people. Today I go around communities all day. Everyone goes about their business. There is no hysteria, no panic," said Irina Golub, chairwoman of the Gorbakha village council.

The agro-town, which is less than 30km from the border with Ukraine, is home to 380 residents. In total, the village council includes nine settlements with a total population of 2,100. “The most important thing is that no one was injured. We were not left alone to deal with this problem”, Irina Golub said. “I thought that it would be more complicated. I woke up today and realized that I am totally calm. Everything is working as usual. People understand the situation. It means that everything is fine. We continue to gear up for the New Year.”

As BelTA reported earlier, a Ukrainian missile fell down in Ivanovo District, Brest Oblast, Belarus between 10:00 and 11:00 on 29 December. Pieces of the missile were found in a crop field in less than 100m from the village of Gorbakha. An examination revealed that the pieces had been part of an S-300 air defense guided missile fired from Ukraine's territory.

Operational services continue to work at the scene. The pieces of the missile, which contains an explosive substance, are expected to be destroyed today.