By Smartencyclopedia & Agencies
Kyiv, 9 August 2024 — Ukrainian authorities have announced a significant escalation in evacuation efforts as tensions rise along the border with Russia’s Kursk region. On Friday, Ukrainian police reported that “about 20,000” residents from 28 settlements in the Sumy region need to be evacuated. This figure marks a dramatic increase from earlier estimates of around 6,000.
The urgent evacuation order follows a high-intensity conflict that has erupted in the area. Ukrainian forces, in a surprise counter-offensive, have advanced approximately 10 kilometers into Russian territory, marking Ukraine’s deepest incursion yet into Kursk. This bold move has led to a sustained military response from Moscow.
In response to the escalation, the Russian Defence Ministry announced it will be transferring additional forces to the region. According to Interfax news agency, the reinforcements include columns of Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery, and tanks. This buildup of military hardware aims to counter the Ukrainian advance, which has now entered its fourth day.
The fighting has reportedly reached several dozen kilometers from the southern Russian town of Kurchatov, where the Kursk nuclear plant is located. Local officials, including Igor Korpunkov, have provided updates on the ongoing conflict and its proximity to critical infrastructure.
The Ukrainian incursion, which began on Tuesday, comes after months of gradual Russian advances in eastern Ukraine. The sudden offensive has taken both Russian and international observers by surprise, exacerbating the already volatile situation in the region.
As the conflict continues, the situation on the ground remains fluid, with both sides mobilizing additional resources. The large-scale evacuation effort underscores the severity of the conflict and its impact on local populations, as Ukrainian and Russian forces engage in a high-stakes struggle over control of the border areas.
With military activities intensifying, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution to the escalating crisis that continues to affect thousands of lives in the border regions.