Russia began evacuating thousands more from border areas on Thursday, as Ukraine said it was pressing ahead with a surprise push into Russian territory aimed at forcing Moscow to slow its advance along the front.
The largest foreign offensive on Russian territory since World War II began on Aug. 6 when thousands of Ukrainian troops stormed Russia’s western border.
Backed by groups of drones, heavy artillery and tanks, Ukrainian units have since managed to seize a swathe of Russian territory.
Fighting continued along a front about 18 kilometers (11 miles) into Russian territory on Thursday.
The acting governor of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, said the Gluchkov district, with a population of 20,000, was being evacuated. At least 200,000 people have been evacuated so far from the border areas, according to Russian data.
Russia's Defense Ministry said on Thursday that its forces had shot down Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region bordering Russia, and that Su-34 bombers had struck Ukrainian positions in Kursk.
The Russian ministry added that fierce fighting was taking place along the Ukrainian front, and said its forces had taken up better positions at several points.
State of emergency declared in Belgorod
In the same context, Russian Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov said on Thursday that the ministry had declared a federal state of emergency in the Belgorod region, which borders Kursk and is under Ukrainian attack.
He added: "The situation in the region remains complex and tense. Due to terrorist attacks by Ukrainian armed groups on the Belgorod region, houses and infrastructure facilities have been damaged, and citizens have been injured and killed."
Comments