"Lukashenko Is In Trouble, Like With A Coronavirus."

• 18.02.2026, 9:48

Belarusians told about the "surprises" of the first month of this year.

Belarusians told "Salidarnasts" about the moods and thoughts of the first months of this year, which have already rattled their nerves. All names of the interlocutors have been changed.

Anna, 32. "I had to freeze at home and at work"

- At first, many people discussed the "Year of Belarusian Woman." My friends and I also raised this topic in a common chat room, when the authorities once again told about the upcoming events.

A friend wrote: "It would be better if everyone was given a good examination of the whole body". But that's certainly not favorable to the authorities. And there are a lot of jokes in the infopole now (or maybe not) about the fact that in the Year of Women women will be women's laborers - both for themselves and for men. But they won't get more for it.

Further from the memorable (not global) - a dialog of an elderly couple, which I recently heard in a store. The man takes a packaged chicken fillet and says: "Six rubles". And his wife replied: "It's expensive, put it back". I felt very uncomfortable.

From what affected me personally - the recent accident at the thermal power plant in Minsk. "It affected the house where I live and the building where I work. I had to freeze both at home and at work.

A few weeks later there was another accident - this time a pipe burst in the house, the water flooded the elevators. At first the employees of the Housing and Utilities Department wanted to wait until the shaft drained naturally and warned that the elevator would not work for about two weeks. But after a day and a half everything worked. Maybe someone complained? Our house was lucky - only the elevators were affected. Others had no water.

Then, of course, surprised when at one point turned off the lights in the city. Driving after work and thinking, "Interesting." Now I'm worried that the traffic police exam will fall in the early morning - it will be difficult to pass in the dark.

But all these events have brought many people together. Everyone is very friendly and tries to help each other. When there was a heavy snowfall, some people helped to dig out cars, and my boss even drove us home.

When the heating and water were cut off, we were let off early from work, and my aunt, who lives nearby and was not affected by the cut-off, offered the whole family to stay with her.

And also... the year started with illnesses for many people. In my surroundings were sick with flu, rotavirus, sore throat and pneumonia.

Valentina, 53. "During the cyclone everyone tried to help each other"

- Surprises in the new year are not pleasant. The latest one is this idea to save money on street lighting. Imagine: today it's raining in Minsk, and the day after tomorrow - minus 10, there will be a skating rink. Even in daylight, the risk of falling and twisting something is high, and without light is not an option at all.

And they always said: there is a nuclear power plant, electricity has nowhere to go, it's cheap. But electricity costs are constantly rising, and here they are also saving money on street lighting. They will build a second one - I don't want our grandchildren to pay for it.

And now they have raised the utility bill - I'm waiting for a receipt, I'm very curious what the price will be. And in general, everything is getting more expensive every week. Vegetables are expensive, nuts. But there is a full boarding in the establishments. Recently a new restaurant opened in Minsk - it's hard to book a table, everything is full. So it's a two-edged stick.

The news that the prices for recreation in sanatoriums for Belarusians and Russians will be equalized surprised me. That is, many Belarusians won't be able to get there, because the price of four thousand rubles for 10 days is a nightmare.

People, in my opinion, have become cooked in their shell. They used to visit, discuss something, but now it's "home-work-home". But during the cyclone everyone tried to help each other. We don't have a car, but my husband brought a big shovel from work and helped to dig out the snow near the entrance.

The mood now - waiting for better times. Recently I listened to Belarusian songs and even let a tear fall. But I'm pulling myself out. For example, I have an opportunity to take a walk in the park in the afternoon. And this winter, although it is very cold, but there is a lot of sun and snow - it is incredibly beautiful.

Holidays also save me. For example, my husband and I celebrate February 14 - it's another reason to say to my loved one: "I love you, we'll cope with everything".

Artyom, 26. "Worried about what will happen with prices and the dollar"

- Everyone will remember this winter for the weather. A lot of snow, sunshine - but there is no full happiness from it. Standing at the bus stop in minus 20, freezing and thinking, "I wish it was spring." On the other hand, the weather finally allows you to go skiing and snowboarding in Silichi, Raubichi, have a rest.

Many people this winter were outraged by the situation with switching off the lights: darkness, a lot of accidents. People began to complain - and the authorities had to pull back. It reminded me of the beginning of 2020, the coronavirus, when Lukashenko balked at everything and said: "It's no big deal." Now it's the same.

Belarusians are also worried about what will happen to prices and the dollar. The dollar seems to be cheap now, but in rubles everything is getting more expensive.

Oksana, 45 years old. "I won't say that we're used to it, but we don't have the strength to react anymore"

- What was happening at the end of 2025 and continues to happen now, in 2026, is a terrible circus, and it's scary. I try not to read Belarusian news: I am more attracted to world news. What Donald Trump allows himself, how he conducts world politics - it makes my eyes round. What we continue to have is unfunny reality TV, stupid mockery of people. I can't say that we are used to it, but we have no strength to react.

We are now living in a state where life goes on at the micro level, but at the macro level it becomes simply scary - you want to close yourself off from it all.

And people who put other people in jail, torture them, go unpunished, because they have complete carte blanche. I understand: the more you keep silent, the more they allow themselves. But at the same time, the voice of reason says that nothing will change from saying things out loud that they won't like. People even on TikTok come out with some criticism, and then they get smacked for it.

What's happening this winter, with the heat being turned off and all, is bad. But I can't imagine how people in Ukraine live. Against this background, our troubles seem insignificant.