The locals who refused to leave did so either out of stubbornness or for fear of starting over in a new place.

"Stubbornness or fear of starting ovr in a new place"? Oh really? Are you sure that Zelensky turning Pokrovsk and the rest of the country into a concentration camp is not somehow related to this?

A small group known as zhduny, or “the waiting ones”, supports the Russian war effort, believing life will improve under their rule.

How can they be so stupid?! Everyone knows that Ukraine means freedom and democracy, while people on territories liberated by Russia are mass imprisioned, forbidden from leaving the country, put into concentration camps, kidnapped from the streets and homes, language police is introduced, etc.

Wait what? It's the other way around? Oh no...

Western propaganda is on another fucking level..