In response to potential further Russian assaults, volunteers in Ukraine have helped evacuate numerous inhabitants and their pets from the northern Sumy area. This measures are taken in reaction to Ukraine’s military incursion into the Kursk region, across the Russian border.
Residents lumbered towards the evacuation spot with their pets and possessions in tow, in the wake of heightened air-to-surface missile strikes by Russian forces. Svitlana Linova, who moved her bicycle carrying her cat, Murchik, in its enclosure, was keenly aware of the urgent need to leave.
She mentioned how the severe cross-border bombardment the day before had caused significant structural damage. She also told of freeing her neighbour’s dogs, anticipating their owners’ considerable delay in returning.
In anticipation of escalating conflict, Sumy’s governor, Volodymyr Artiukh, commanded the withdrawal of residents from 28 villages in a 10km border radius. It was implied that this would affect around 20,000 individuals.
One evacuee, Serhiy Kozak, stated that the villagers of Basivka have experienced enough of the war initiated by Russia’s massive military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Some properties have been targeted multiple times, with shellings throughout the day causing panic and extensive destruction.
Kozak shed light on the most recent assaults which involved aircraft and helicopters launching attacks from the Kursk region over the border, releasing a barrage of ammunition on Basivka before diverting and departing.
Evacuees, many of whom depended on walking aids, were assisted into mini-vans by volunteers clad in bullet-proof armour and transported to safer zones outside the threat area. In addition to humans, pets too were lifted in, including a dog which found itself squeezed into a small carrier bag.
The Ukrainian authorities have largely been reticent regarding the intrusion into the Kursk region. However, unofficial reports suggest some progress four days into the operation.
Vlad Polyansky, a volunteer from the group SOS East, reported that 24 individuals were relocated throughout Friday. “Given the ongoing operation in the Kursk region, it’s unlikely that this development would be favourably received by Moscow”, he expressed. He also predicted an intensification of bombardment in border regions.
These evacuations were underway as Russia increased its artillery, tanks and rocket systems in its Kursk region, initiating anti-terror procedures in border locations, to fight a sudden invasion by the Ukrainian military.
In the meantime, Ukrainian forces shared a video allegedly showing them controlling a border town. This visual provides first proof of their progress beyond borders.
Subsequent footage, authenticated by Reuters, displayed the aftermath of the Ukrainian counter-attack, featuring around 15 charred Russian military trucks scattered across a highway in the Kursk region, some littered with deceased bodies.
The interim governor of the Kursk area, Alexei Smirnov, stated that there had been an instance of drone debris falling on an electricity substation near Kurchatov, which is home to one of Russia’s most extensive nuclear power stations with four reactors. Consequently, power supply was temporarily disrupted.
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency chief urged for discretion from both parties considering the conflict’s proximity, a mere 60 km, to the power station.
Russian diplomatic officials in Vienna confirmed to the IAEA that fragments, possibly originating from downed missiles, had been discovered, although there was no indication of an attack on the station.
Ukrainian forces launched a surprise entry across the border on Tuesday, taking the Russian military aback following a gradual escalation in Moscow’s forces in eastern Ukraine.
Statements from the political and military representatives have indicated an “intrusion” into Ukraine, nearly two and a half years following Russia’s broad-scale incursion into the neighbouring territory.
Previously on Saturday, Russian media outlets reported that the National Counter-terrorism Committee had initiated anti-terrorism protocols in the Kursk region as well as in the adjacent regions of Bryansk and Belgorod.
The decision, led by the Head of the FSB intelligence service, Alexander Bortnikov, was a response to Ukraine’s “unparallelled effort to destabilise the condition in several regions,” according to the statement. As part of these procedures, RIA news agency mentioned potential resident relocations, movement restrictions, beefed-up protection around crucial sites, and wire surveillance.
Despite the Russian defence ministry claiming two days after the military chief, Valery Gerasimov confirmed to President Vladimir Putin that the advancement had ceased, they said they “continue to counter the invasion attempt by Ukraine’s Armed Forces”.
Interfax news agency conveyed the defense ministry’s statement that Russia was sending reinforcement contingents with Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery, and tanks.
An alleged Ukrainian video showed Ukrainian forces in command of a gas measurement facility managed by the Russian firm Gazprom in Sudzha. A soldier in the video mentioned that a Ukrainian battalion controlled the “strategic Gazprom facility” in Sudzha, a town currently in tranquillity, its architecture untouched.
Reuters was unable to authenticate this video, and the Ukrainian military’s General Staff remained unresponsive. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy kept mum on this matter while dropping some apparent hints on Thursday.
Zelenskiy praised the capability of surprise in his forces. In his every-night video address, he expressed gratitude towards the units who captured Russian servicemen to be used later in talks.
He further remarked the importance and effectiveness this tactic has shown over the last few days. The United States disclosed the availability of a fresh $125 million (£95 million) package to assist Ukraine, including stinger missiles, artilleries, and anti-armour systems. Zelenskiy remarked that it was of utmost importance for the Ukrainian forces to curtail the Russian aggression.
A video shared by the Russian defence ministry purportedly shows drones annihilating a Ukrainian tank and howitzer near Sudzha. Reuters managed to verify the location, confirming the incident.
According to the ministry, within the past day, Russian forces, using air and artillery strikes, have successfully repelled enemy incursions deep into Russian territory in the Kursk region. It was reported that Ukraine had suffered up to 945 military casualties as well as the loss of 102 armoured vehicles, with no mention of any Russian losses. Although these claims could not be confirmed by Reuters, Gerasimov stated on Wednesday that the Ukrainian assault was conducted by a force of up to 1,000 soldiers.
Meanwhile, a report issued overnight by the Institute for the Study of War suggested that recorded video footage and Russian reports imply that Ukrainian forces are making swift progress. Russian sources give unconfirmed reports of Ukrainian forces advancing as far as 35km past the border. – Reuters.