Evacuation ordered in Kursk as Ukrainian forces advance
The authorities of the Kursk region have decided to evacuate civilians from border towns more profound into the country, BBC reported. The Russian daily Kommersant published a video showing crowds of evacuated civilians waiting in line for humanitarian aid.
The Russian newspaper "Kommersant" published a video showing crowds of evacuated civilians waiting in line for humanitarian aid. Many fled their homes as they were: they had no clothes, food, or personal hygiene items.
According to the BBC, Russian authorities reported that at least five civilian casualties and 31 injured, including six children, were recorded as a result of a Ukrainian attack.
Reuters reported that, according to Russian military bloggers, the Ukrainian army is heading towards the nuclear power plant in Kursk, located about 69 kilometres from the town of Sudzha. Earlier, they reported the capture of the gas measurement station in Sudzha. Currently, Russian bloggers report battles in the village of Kromskie Byki, located about 31 kilometres from the border.
Acting Governor of Kursk Region, Alexei Smirnov informed that he had a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he presented the situation in the region to the president. According to Smirnov's information, several doctors died during the evacuation.
Putin promised 10,000 rubles (£90) for each evacuated person from the endangered towns.
Securing gas stations against attack
During the meeting with Putin, Smirnov said he spoke with Igor Sechin, CEO of the state-owned petrochemical company Rosneft, about securing gas stations. He also said that he has forbidden local authorities from raising prices in the deeper parts of the region, where residents of border towns have fled.
According to Ukrainian sources, since the beginning of the fighting on Russian territory, the Ukrainian army has taken about 300 Russian soldiers prisoner. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation has not confirmed these reports.
The Ukrainian army attacked the Kursk region in Russia on Tuesday. This is the first incursion of foreign troops into Russian territory since 1941. According to Russian sources, about 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers have infiltrated, supported by tanks, armoured vehicles, drones, and artillery.
