Living in Fear: Pro-Ukrainian Residents of Occupied Melitopol Pretend to be Civilians.
Pro-Ukrainian residents of Melitopol, a city in southern Ukraine occupied by Russian troops, are living in fear and facing pressure to obtain Russian passports. Those who refuse are being denied access to hospitals and welfare payments. The population is divided between those who support the pro-Russian government and those who support Ukraine. The quality of goods, including medicines, is poor, and there are shortages of household goods and baby food. Despite the dangers, people are pretending to live a normal life and have become accustomed to the situation.