Russia begins evacuation of border villages in Kursk region

• Moscow is reportedly mounting a counter-offensive in the region, 
• The evacuation of settlements in the Rylsky and Khomutovsky districts within a 15-kilometer radius adjacent to the border.
• Ukraine reports its forces have advanced across tens of kilometers of Russian territory.

On Monday, the local governor announced that Russia is evacuating several villages in the Kursk region near the Ukrainian border, nearly six weeks after Ukraine launched its surprise incursion. Moscow is reportedly mounting a counter-offensive in the region, claiming to have retaken at least a dozen villages from Ukrainian control since last week.

Governor Alexei Smirnov announced on Telegram that authorities have decided to order the “obligatory evacuation of settlements in the Rylsky and Khomutovsky districts within a 15-kilometer (nine-mile) zone adjacent to the border with Ukraine.”

He did not specify which villages would be evacuated or the number of evacuees. This 15-kilometer radius contains dozens of villages and towns. State media reported last week that more than 150,000 people in the region have fled their homes since Kyiv’s offensive began on August 6, according to Smirnov.

Ukraine reports that its forces have advanced across tens of kilometers of Russian territory and seized dozens of settlements, including the border town of Sudzha. Ukraine’s incursion— which began more than two years after Russia launched a full-scale military assault on its neighbor—caught Moscow off-guard. This is the largest incursion by a foreign army into Russian territory since World War II.

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