Russia evacuates parts of Kursk region amid ongoing Ukrainian attack

Russia evacuated citizens from the Kursk region on Friday following an ongoing incursion by Ukrainian armed forces into its territory.

Moscow declared a “federal-level” emergency in the region on Friday – four days after hundreds of Ukrainian troops poured across the border in what appeared to be the largest attack by Kyiv on Russian soil since the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion against its neighbour in February 2022.

Russian military and border guards have blocked Ukrainian forces from pushing deeper into the country, according to the Kremlin.

Authorities also said that Ukrainian fighters attempting to advance into the area from Ukraine’s Sumy region were being pushed back.

According to Russia, Ukrainian advances in the border area were stopped about 500 kilometres southwest of Moscow. However, military bloggers and open-source data indicate that Ukrainian troops have made gains in several areas in Kursk.

The fighting in Kursk has received considerable attention by Russian media. Much of the coverage concerned the humanitarian situation – children being taken to shelters on buses as well as people from other Russian regions gathered food, diapers and other supplies to be sent to Kursk.

Some 20 temporary shelters housing over 1,200 people were reportedly organised in Kursk. As people continue to flee the fighting, more shelters will open.

• How is the latest Ukrainian raid into Russian territory different? 

• Russia declares federal emergency as Ukrainian troops continue cross-border assault

Kursk regional authorities reported on Wednesday that at least five civilians were killed. At least 66 civilians, including nine children, have been wounded in the region in three days of fighting, Russia’s Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.

Also on Friday, Russian troops shelled a supermarket in the Kostiantyvnivka region of Ukraine, causing a fire to break out. Reports indicate at least 12 were killed and 44 wounded as a result of the shelling.

Vadym Filashkin, Donetsk’s regional military administration head, said that there were 50 people inside the store at the time of the attack.

Filashkin described it as a targeted attack on a crowded place and another “act of terror” by Russian forces.

None of the claims could be independently confirmed.