In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, over 130,000 civilians have been evacuated from the Belgorod and Kursk regions in Russia due to a significant military offensive launched by Ukrainian forces. This unprecedented incursion has seen Ukrainian troops penetrate more than 40 kilometers into Russian territory, capturing control of 28 towns and advancing into an area that spans approximately 1,000 square kilometers. This marks the first substantial attack by Ukrainian forces on Russian soil since the war began in February 2022, and it has raised alarms within the Kremlin, prompting a state of emergency in the affected regions.
The offensive, which has been described by analysts as the most significant attack by a foreign army on Russian territory since World War II, has caught President Vladimir Putin off guard. He had previously asserted total control over the borders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the operation, stating that the aim is to shift the war back onto Russian soil, thereby destabilizing the situation in Russia. This bold move has reportedly boosted morale among Ukrainian forces, even as evacuations also took place within Ukraine, particularly in Sumy, where 20,000 civilians were displaced due to the conflict.
