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Russia has commenced the evacuation of civilians from parts of its Belgorod region, amidst heightened military activity by Ukrainian forces near the border.
The move became imperative following Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory since the start of the conflict in February 2022.
The Ukrainian military executed a surprise attack on Tuesday, breaching the Russian border and advancing into the western areas of Russia’s Kursk region.
This unexpected offensive, which resulted in a brief occupation of some Russian land, is believed to be aimed at gaining leverage for potential ceasefire negotiations anticipated after the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
However, Ukrainian troops had managed to hold onto a small portion of Russian territory, with ongoing skirmishes reported on Monday, according to Russian war bloggers.
In response to the increased threat, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of Belgorod announced the start of evacuations from the Krasnaya Yaruga District.
“We are beginning to move residents to safer areas due to enemy activity on the border,” he said.
Gladkov expressed confidence in the capabilities of Russian servicemen to address the current threat.
Tight security measures have been enforced across the Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod regions.
Meanwhile, Belarus, a Russian ally, has reportedly bolstered its troops presence at its border after accusations that Ukraine violated its airspace with drones.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has seized control of approximately 18% of Ukrainian territory.
Recent attempts by Kyiv to make gains through a counteroffensive have largely failed, leading to intensified fighting along the 1,000-kilometre front line.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy defended the incursion, stating that it was aimed at “restoring justice” and pressuring Russian forces.
