By Smartencyclopedia & Agencies
Kursk, 9 August 2024 — Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry has declared a federal-level emergency in the southwestern Kursk region as intense clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces enter their fourth day. This declaration underscores the severity of the situation following Kyiv’s surprise incursion earlier this week.
A federal emergency is classified by the Russian government as a crisis resulting in over 500 casualties or damages exceeding 1.2 billion rubles (approximately $13.6 million). Current reports indicate a death toll of six, with 66 people injured, including nine children, according to Russia’s Health Ministry. Independent media have reported similar figures, though the exact number of casualties remains fluid.
Ukrainian forces launched their offensive into the Kursk region’s Sudzhansky district on Tuesday, making significant inroads into Russian territory despite Russian claims of successfully repelling the attack. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that its forces have managed to kill 280 Ukrainian troops and destroy 27 armored vehicles in the past 24 hours alone.
“Units of the North group of forces, along with incoming reserve troops, army aviation strikes, and artillery fire, have thwarted the enemy’s attempts to advance further into Russian territory,” the ministry reported. Since the beginning of the incursion, Russian officials claim to have killed 925 Ukrainian troops and destroyed over 100 armored vehicles. The ministry has not released figures for Russian casualties or equipment losses.
Pro-war military bloggers have circulated an unverified video purportedly showing a Russian military convoy destroyed by Ukrainian fire in the Rylsky district, located northwest of Sudzha. This area has seen heavy fighting and has been particularly hard-hit.
Acting Kursk region Governor Alexei Smirnov has acknowledged the “difficult” situation in the region. In response to the crisis, authorities have announced that mobile internet service will be provided free of charge to residents in the affected areas to help with communication and coordination amid the conflict.
The escalating violence has prompted a significant evacuation effort, with many residents fleeing areas close to the border. The federal emergency declaration highlights the ongoing impact of the conflict on local communities and the broader implications for regional stability.
As the situation develops, both sides continue to mobilize resources, with international observers closely monitoring the conflict’s progress and its humanitarian consequences.