Russia Evacuates Wider Areas Of Kursk Amid Ukrainian Incursion

 MOSCOW, Aug 15 (Bernama-dpa) -- Russian authorities ordered the evacuation of another district in the Russian region of Kursk, partly controlled by Ukrainian troops, according to Governor Alexey Smirnov, reported the German news agency (dpa).

People in the Glushkovsky district are to be brought to safety, he said in a post late on Wednesday. 

The district, located about 10 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, had more than 17,500 registered inhabitants before the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Smirnov reported in the morning that there was an air raid alert in the Kursk area again due to the threat of missile attacks from the Ukrainian side.

"Dear compatriots, I ask you to respond to the current situation with understanding and follow all recommendations of the security forces and local authorities," said Smirnov. 

The Glushkovsky district is about 150 km from the regional capital Kursk. 

Smirnov urged people in other regions with air raid alerts to seek safety in shelters or rooms without windows.

More than 120,000 people have been brought to safety, according to Smirnov. 

Russia has declared its border regions of Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk as zones for anti-terror operations so the army can deploy more personnel and resources. 

In the Belgorod region, Moscow raised the state of emergency to a national emergency, similar to what it did in Kursk.

In parts of the Kursk region, there are reportedly heavy clashes between Moscow's and Kiev's armies, according to Russian military bloggers, after Ukraine launched a ground offensive on Russian territory last week as it seeks to repel Russian forces. 

About 12,000 Ukrainian soldiers, including mercenaries, are said to have infiltrated the area, according to Russian military reports unconfirmed by Kiev.

-- BERNAMA-dpa