By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Civilians Relocated as Tensions Escalate in Ongoing Conflict
Russia has initiated the evacuation of residents from a second border region as Ukraine's surprise week long offensive continues within Russian territory. Approximately 11,000 people in the Belgorod region have been relocated due to "enemy action" near the border, according to Russian state media.
Belgorod, situated south of Kursk where Ukrainian troops launched their unexpected incursion last Tuesday, is now under heightened alert. On Monday morning, residents in certain parts of Belgorod were instructed to evacuate but urged not to panic. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced that people from the Krasnaya Yaruga district were being evacuated due to "enemy activity on the border." He also mentioned that the entire region was under a missile alert and advised residents to seek shelter in their basements. Despite the tense situation, Gladkov expressed confidence in the ability of Russian servicemen to manage the threat.
Evacuations continue in the Kursk region as well, with thousands of residents from the Belovsky district being moved to safety. Governor Alexei Smirnov also issued a missile warning, advising people to take shelter in rooms with solid walls and no windows. Temporary accommodations have been prepared for those displaced.
Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed for the first time that Ukraine was carrying the war into "the aggressor's territory." He acknowledged the offensive, stating that Russia had launched 2,000 attacks from Kursk over the summer, warranting a response. A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that thousands of troops were involved in the operation, significantly more than the small incursion initially reported by Russian border guards. The official added that the objective was "to inflict maximum losses and destabilize the situation in Russia."
Social media footage, verified by Reuters, showed Ukrainian soldiers raising their flag in the Russian village of Guevo, Kursk, marking the most extensive coordinated attack on Russian territory by Kyiv's conventional forces. Russia has struggled to counter the Ukrainian advance, with over 76,000 people evacuated from the Kursk region, where a state of emergency has been declared by local authorities.
Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the offensive as a "major provocation." The situation has raised concerns within Russia, with pro Russian war blogger Yuri Podolyaka calling the situation "alarming." Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that a strong response from Russia's armed forces "will not take long."
Meanwhile, Belarus, a Russian ally, announced that it is bolstering its troop numbers at its border after accusing Ukraine of entering its airspace with drones. Ukrainian forces have advanced up to 30 kilometers (18 miles) inside Russia, marking the deepest incursion into the country since Moscow's full scale invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv asserts that thousands of troops are involved in the operation.
