Local confirms Russian cross-border rocket attack on Ukraine troops

A short video appeared on July 16 on Youtube showing what appears to be salvos from a multiple rocket launcher allegedly firing into the territory of Ukraine. The author of the video says the rockets are being fired from the territory of Ukraine:

“Look at this fun in the town of Gukovo, guys! Multiple rocket launcher] Grad is firing!

The small Russian town of Gukovo is only 5 km off the border with Ukraine and 120km off the Russian regional center of Rostov. Over 65000 people live in Gukovo. Local resident Nikita tells Euroradio that he did not see the rockets launch into the territory of Ukraine but heard that something was being fired. But he was not surprised as locals had got used to the sounds of fire shots and explosions from across the border. Nikita says some "Ukrainian militants" are currently being treated at a local hospital.

“I know that some Ukrainian militants are at our hospital. There are guards who protect them. I know that yes... As for the war in Ukraine, nobody here stresses out. Everybody is living a normal life. However, it is terrible that the war is there, just around the corner.”

Gukovo is located near the stretch of the Ukraine-Russia border that has been controled by pro-Russian separatists since the beginning of the conflict. According to Kiev, this is exactly where the main channals of supplies in weapons and ammunition from Russia are located. Yet another local resident Alexey says that he saw the rockets launch with this own eyes. In his opinion, the Russian military fired towards Ukraine, indeed. Allegedly, they wanted to stop some unknown border violators. The young man says that some of them survived and are currently being guarded at the local hospital.

“I simply saw it with my own eyes. Someone tried to cross the border but they were destroyed by the attack. A big group of people was trying to cross the border. 15 people survived. They are now at the hospital, being interrogated. I know nothing who or what they are.”

Alexey says he is not happy about the war in neighboring Ukraine. The Russian tells Euroradio he used to like traveling to Ukraine. He had many friends there, including friends in Kiev. Everything is different now.

“They unfriended me in Vkontakte and write bad things. But what would I have to do with that?” he complains. Alexei says that sometimes shells land in Gukovo but do not cause big damage.

“I don't like these events… We can hear evrything. It is only five kilometers off, and the war is there. They fire every night. Windows are trembling. Sway shells fly here as well. It hit the gate but there was not much damage."

Gukovo resident Igor says there are many Russian soldiers in town - much more than it used to be before. The life has not changed much since the beginning of the war. Igor also knows about the shells that fly from Ukraine.

“Inside the town, life is normal. But in the villages around it is terrifying to live. Shells fall hitting houses and gardens… There are many soldiers here now. Especially near the border. They are protecting it."

He does not know yet who the Russian soldiers protect the border from. Igor also talks about the refugees from Ukraine. He says some of them are now returning back to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the number of videos showing Russian muliple rocket launchers in Gukovo is increasing on YouTube.

“Look, Sergei. You will come back to Norilsk and tell everyone what you saw here,” we hear a joyful comment by the video's author. None of the witnesses seems to care why the Russian troops are firing rockets into the territory of neighboring Ukraine.