Nearly 200,000 Russians Evacuated After Major Ukrainian Offensive

Russian officials have announced that nearly 200,000 people are being evacuated after one of the most significant Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory occurred. This overnight operation represents the largest coordinated assault targeting Russia’s air force infrastructure since the onset of the full-scale war, according to sources from the Security Service of Ukraine.

During the attacks, Russian air defense claimed it destroyed 117 Ukrainian drones along with four Tochka-U missiles across eight regions, including Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, and Nizhny Novgorod, as stated by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

However, local authorities have not confirmed that the airfields were actually hit. The Belgorod region has been placed under a state of emergency due to ongoing Ukrainian attacks, as remarked by Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Reports indicate that nearly 194,000 residents are set to evacuate from the Kursk and Belgorod areas following the recent escalation in military operations. This mass exodus is reminiscent of the last significant refugee movement within Russia, which occurred during the prolonged Second Chechen War starting in 1999.

This recent attack comes over a week into Ukraine’s significant incursion into Russian territory. Ukrainian forces have made further advancements in the Kursk region, with reports indicating that they have gained approximately one mile in several directions.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi of Ukraine briefed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the situation, stating that Ukrainian troops had completed search-and-destroy operations against remaining Russian forces in Sudzha, a pivotal border town now reportedly under Ukrainian control.

Pro-Kremlin military bloggers have echoed similar accounts, suggesting that Ukrainian forces continue to solidify their territorial gains and may still be working to expand their presence, albeit without significant breakthroughs. One military blogger, Yury Podolyak, acknowledged the challenging situation on his Telegram channel, noting that while Ukrainian forces had the initiative, progress was slow.

Another military-linked blog, Rybar, stated that despite a “stabilizing” situation, there are ongoing efforts by Ukraine to breach Russian defenses, resulting in intense conflict. Ukrainian troops are reportedly trying to flank the village of Korenevo, which could lead them to a crucial highway. They are also making attempts to extend their control northward toward Lgov, a town located nearer to the Kursk nuclear power station, though their current position remains at least 12 miles away.

Podolyak observed that Ukrainian tactics are evolving, with a shift away from rapid advances using small armored columns, opting instead for larger, more coordinated assaults. These changes suggest that Ukraine continues to hold an offensive stance in the Kursk region, while Russian forces are engaged in persistent efforts to repel the advancing troops.

Despite the challenging conditions, all signs indicate that the conflict remains intense as Ukrainian forces strive to expand their control in the region.

Source: ABC News