A remote village in Russia's Komi Republic has been steadily emptied by the war in Ukraine, with dozens of men leaving to fight and many not returning. Kerchomya, home to just over 700 people, has seen 56 of its working-age men depart for the front, according to the village head, Olga Bulysheva. That represents about a third of all working-age men, and twelve have been killed.
Residents describe a community reshaped by loss and labour shortages. Alina, who returns from the regional capital Syktyvkar to visit family every few months, said the streets feel emptier each time. "When I go out for a walk now, I barely run into anyone," she said. "Over the past four years, my village has become deserted. The men are all fighting in Ukraine."
The village has long depended on small-scale farming and public-sector jobs, but positions at farms, the post office and a recently opened bread factory are now difficult to fill. Vladimir, whose nephew signed a contract, said: "Everyone knows everyone here, and every pair of hands is needed. If you lose one or two men, you feel it straight away. The village starts to thin out." Some residents also complained of rising food prices.
Tatyana Popova lost one son at the front in 2023 and another a year later. "It's hard to think back on how I had to bury my own children," she said. Nina Ladigina's son Anton has been declared missing; she told a Russian television programme she still hopes he will return, recalling that he would sometimes cry quietly when he thought he was alone.
None of the residents interviewed openly challenged Moscow's rationale for the invasion. Many spoke of duty and sacrifice, repeating the Kremlin's claim that Russia is defending itself from "neo-Nazis" and the west. The war has seeped into daily life: the school displays plaques honouring former pupils killed, children write cards to soldiers, and the cultural centre now hosts memorial gatherings. On the village's social media page, obituaries and recruitment ads have replaced lighter announcements, and residents have changed their profile pictures to black ribbons or candles.
