Evacuation from Kursk region as Ukrainian forces advance
8:54 AM EDT, August 9, 2024
The authorities of the Kursk region have decided to evacuate civilians from border towns more profound into the country, the BBC reported. The Russian daily, Kommersant, published a video showing crowds of evacuated civilians waiting in line for humanitarian aid.
Many of these civilians fled their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They lack food, clothing, and personal hygiene items.
According to the BBC, Russian authorities reported at least five civilian casualties and 31 injuries, including six children, as a result of a Ukrainian attack.
Reuters reported that, according to Russian military bloggers, the Ukrainian army is advancing toward the nuclear power plant in Kursk, which is located about 43 miles from the town of Sudzha. Earlier, reports indicated that the Ukrainian forces had captured a gas measurement station in Sudzha. Russian bloggers report that battles are ongoing in the village of Kromskie Byki, located about 19 miles from the border.
Acting Governor of the Kursk Region, Alexei Smirnov informed that he had a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he presented the situation in the region. According to Smirnov, several doctors died during the evacuation.
Putin promised 10,000 rubles for each evacuated person from the endangered towns.
Securing gas stations against attack
During the meeting with Putin, Smirnov said he spoke with Igor Sechin, CEO of the state-owned petrochemical company Rosneft, about securing gas stations. He also announced that he had forbidden local authorities from raising prices in the deeper parts of the region, where residents of border towns have fled.
According to Ukrainian sources, since the beginning of the fighting on Russian territory, the Ukrainian army has taken about 300 Russian soldiers prisoner. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has not confirmed these reports.
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian army attacked the Kursk region in Russia. This marks the first incursion of foreign troops into Russian territory since 1941. According to Russian sources, about 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers, supported by tanks, armored vehicles, drones, and artillery, have infiltrated the area.
