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| Tomsk, photo from Marina |
A state of emergency has been declared in Russia’s Novosibirsk Region due to an outbreak of cattle disease. Why does this concern me? Because—surprisingly—my husband hadn’t heard anything about it. Right now, attention is focused on bigger headlines: the conflict with Iran, the war in Ukraine, and rising gasoline prices.
But this situation hits closer to home than it seems. Novosibirsk is near Tomsk (my hometown), and Tomsk’s farmers are also being affected.
According to an online newspaper (link below), the emergency declaration followed weeks of forced livestock seizures and culling. These measures have sparked protests from small-scale farmers, who say they threaten their livelihoods.
Authorities report that since early 2026, outbreaks of pasteurellosis and rabies have been detected in the region. Pasteurellosis has been identified in six localities, and more than 50 rabies outbreaks have been recorded. Notably, officials did not immediately disclose the situation—it later emerged that the state of emergency had been in place since February 16.
Under current rules, animals in affected zones can be seized and destroyed to prevent disease spread. Many farmers strongly oppose this, especially when their livestock appear healthy.
Similar restrictions have recently been reported across multiple regions, including Omsk, Tomsk, Sverdlovsk, and others. According to Izvestia, between February and March 2026, up to 90,500 animals were affected by quarantines, culling, or other measures. Estimated direct losses total 1.59 billion rubles, with additional costs pushing the economic impact even higher.
For many farmers, this is devastating. Their livestock is their main source of income—losing it means losing everything.
There are both official and unofficial explanations. Authorities cite pasteurellosis and rabies. However, pasteurellosis is typically treatable with antibiotics, and standard practice focuses on isolation and vaccination rather than mass culling. Rabies, on the other hand, is fatal once symptoms appear and requires strict control measures.
Some farmers claim their animals showed no signs of illness and were culled without proper testing. An industry source cited by Forbes suggested a possible link to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), a highly contagious virus that does require mass culling. However, officials deny any FMD outbreak—likely because such a declaration could halt meat exports.
Meanwhile, resistance is growing. In villages like Kozikha and Novopichugovo, residents have blocked roads, stopped machinery, and recorded video appeals to Vladimir Putin. Some protesters and journalists have reportedly been detained. Farmers say they are not only losing their animals, but also being left without clear explanations or proper documentation.
Concurrently, in February, Kazakhstan imposed a temporary ban on the import of meat and dairy products from the Altai Krai, the Altai Republic, and the Omsk and Novosibirsk regions—further highlighting the scale of the situation. The restriction applies both to products produced in these regions and to those transiting through them.
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| The building on the left |
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| The same building from the right |
Meanwhile, in Tomsk, the snow is melting. I lived in this building twelve years ago. It seems the situation with the meltwater has only gotten worse.
P.S. This post is a team effort between the internet, Google Translate, and ChatGPT. My only job was having the original idea to share it with you!
https://vtomske.ru/details/214110-massovyi-zaboi-skota-v-sibiri-i-protest-fermerov-chto-proishodit
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