A Video From The Polotsk–Miory Road Has Given Belarusians Pause For Thought

All you have to do is turn off the highway to find yourself in a “parallel world.”

On the road from Polotsk to Miory, an employee of a cleaning company noticed dozens of abandoned houses. In the comments, Belarusians shared similar stories, according to bgmedia.

“So many empty… so many abandoned apartments”

An employee of a cleaning company shared on TikTok that while making delivery trips along the Polotsk–Miory road, she regularly sees abandoned houses and apartments.

“Someone used to live there—someone lived there, went about their daily life in this apartment, this house… But now nobody wants it; it just stands there, rotting away,” says the young woman.

She was particularly struck by the houses located far from populated areas. According to her, sometimes in the middle of a field or forest you can see several houses, only one of which is still inhabited.

“How does a person live there? It’s hard to understand. Maybe a mobile store makes the rounds there, or someone brings them supplies,” the video’s creator speculates.

Overcast weather, empty streets, and overgrown lots, she admits, only intensify this feeling.

“You’re driving and… it’s sad. Just so sad,” the woman says.

“It’s been sad there for about 10 years”

In the comments, users note that this problem isn’t unique to residents of the Mior District.One Belarusian woman said she herself is originally from Miory.
“If there are no jobs… then people go where there are jobs and money. Schools and kindergartens are closing… so young people are leaving… I’m from Miory myself, and it’s been so sad there for about 10 years… God willing, the mobile stores will make it there.”

Another user shared the opposite example. A family decided not to let their house stand empty and handed it over to new owners.

“We gave away our house so it wouldn’t fall into disrepair. It’s good that it’s close to town, so we found takers quickly. And we’re very happy that the new owner is fixing everything up—the house won’t fall into disrepair.”

And some saw the situation as an opportunity to buy real estate at a low price.

“If you see one you like, you can check the registry of vacant houses and see if it’s being sold at the base price.”

“Turn off the highway—and you’re in a whole different world”

Many noted that a similar picture can be seen in other regions of Belarus.

“Yeah, it’s like that everywhere. Just turn off the highway—it’s like entering another world: everything’s in ruins, and there’s no one around.”

“Take a drive toward Trudov—it’s just so sad there.”

“You haven’t driven through the Braslav District yet. It’s just as dismal…”

“And in my hometown of Sharkovshchina, it’s the same situation. Empty houses all around.”
However, there were also those who disagreed with the video’s bleak impression: “Miory is a great town. There are empty houses; every town has them. So, ma’am, don’t make a fuss.”
How many empty houses are there in Belarus?
The problem of vacant housing is indeed evident in the official registry. As of September 22, 2026, the Registry of Vacant Houses lists 27,410 houses across Belarus. Of these, 406 properties are listed for sale at one base unit.

There are currently 110 vacant homes listed in the Miorsky District.

When comparing available data from recent years, the increase is striking. In January 2023, there were about 1,200 vacant homes in the registry. By December 2024, that number had risen to 22,649—a 19-fold increase!
And by September 22, 2026, the figure had reached 27,410.

In other words, over the period since January 2023, the number of properties in the registry has increased more than 22-fold. However, this comparison should be viewed with a caveat: the registry is constantly being compiled and updated, so changes in the number of entries may reflect not only the emergence of new vacant homes but also the identification or addition of previously unaccounted-for properties.

There are very real stories behind these numbers. When people leave a village, a school or store closes, and a house—which until recently was part of everyday family life—gradually becomes empty. And a few years later, all that may remain is an overgrown lot and the memories of those who once lived there.

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