Russia Evacuates Thousands from Kursk; Zelensky Confirms Attack on Kursk

Following continued Ukrainian attacks on Kursk in Russia, a local Russian official announced that Russian citizens are being evacuated from the area. The President of Ukraine also confirmed that his country has managed to bring the war to the territory of the 'aggressor.' Alexey Smirnov, the governor of Kursk, wrote on his Telegram channel on Sunday, August 12, that he has instructed local officials to expedite the evacuation of civilians. The decision to evacuate civilians from southwestern Kursk was made after last week's incursion of Ukrainian military forces into the area. Ukraine's attacks on Kursk, which have been the largest since the beginning of Russia's invasion of four Ukrainian provinces, have apparently the potential to create significant changes in the battlefield and the developments of the war, keeping the Russian army and Kremlin leaders occupied. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, held a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday to discuss this event, condemning the Ukrainian attacks as targeting the infrastructure of this border region and calling it a 'provocative' act. Russian officials announced on Saturday that more than 76,000 residents have been 'temporarily' moved to safe locations. Meanwhile, the President of Ukraine confirmed for the first time on Saturday that his forces are fighting in the Kursk region of Russia. Zelensky stated that this operation is part of Kyiv's efforts to 'achieve justice' following Russia's invasion of his country. He mentioned his discussions with Alexander Syrski, the commander of the Ukrainian army, regarding operations in Kursk with the aim of 'bringing the war to the territory of the aggressor' and praised Ukrainian soldiers, asserting that Ukraine is proving it is truly capable of delivering justice and that pressure on the aggressor guarantees its realization. Russian officials in Kursk reported that at least 13 people were killed when a missile fired from Ukraine struck a nine-story residential building. Igor Kotsak, the mayor of Kursk, stated that the residents of the building hit by the missile were supposed to be moved to a temporary shelter. According to the mayor of Kursk, 'the entire city is under air raid alert.' The Russian Ministry of Defense had previously stated that further advances by Ukrainian soldiers in the attack on Kursk had been halted on the fifth day of these attacks. On Saturday, Russia announced the start of an 'anti-terrorist operation' in three border regions: Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk. However, on Sunday, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported continued drone and missile attacks from Ukraine towards Kursk, alongside the deployment of Ukrainian drones to Belgorod, Bryansk, and Oryol. On the other hand, the mayor of Kyiv stated early Sunday that the air defense systems protecting the capital repelled new Russian air attacks. The Ukrainian military's incursion into Russia has been enabled by increased weapon supplies from Western countries allied with Kyiv, especially from the United States.