March 19, 2026

Novosibirsk Oblast Governor Comments for the First Time on Mass Livestock Slaughter in the Region

Novosibirsk Oblast Governor Andrey Travnikov has commented for the first time on the mass livestock slaughter in the region under the pretext of fighting infection. TASS and RIA Novosti reported his words. "Today, strict but absolutely necessary veterinary measures are being carried out in the Novosibirsk Oblast to prevent the spread of disease and significant damage to our region's livestock industry," Travnikov said. According to him, all measures are being implemented according to veterinary rules and Russian law, and farmers have already started receiving compensation. At the same time, a convoy of security forces and veterinarians arrived at the Vodoley farm in Kozikha, Novosibirsk, to slaughter livestock, 7x7 and Sibirsky Express reported. The farm has 600 cows and 220 sheep, said Vladimir Gurkin, head of Vodoley. According to him, at the beginning of March, cows began to show signs of illness, and tests were taken from the animals. The arriving veterinarians claimed the tests were positive but did not explain what disease was found in the cows. They also did not present any documents, Gurkin noted. Security forces are also guarding the entrance to Kozikha, local resident Daria Mironenko wrote on her Telegram channel. Farm employees were not allowed to work, and by the time this news was written, the livestock had already been led out, Sibirsky Express reported. In the Novosibirsk Oblast, cow slaughter has been ongoing for over a month, which regional authorities attribute to an outbreak of a "particularly dangerous disease." On March 6, quarantine was imposed in Kozikha for pasteurellosis, an infectious disease dangerous to livestock but treatable. Later, authorities began stating that outbreaks of rabies had been detected in the region. Local residents have protested, saying that for many, animals are their sole source of income. Cows are being slaughtered without documentation, and the compensation paid to owners is insufficient to restore their farms.