Ukraine has set up an administrative office in occupied areas of the Russian border region of Kursk, army chief Oleksandr Syrsky said Thursday, adding that Ukraine now controls 82 Russian settlements including Sudzha, a town 8 kilometres from the border. Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded.
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Summary:
- Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrsky says Kyiv has set up a military field office in the occupied areas of Russia's Kursk region, where his forces have seized 82 settlements and 1,150 square kilometres since the August 6 start of the Ukrainian incursion.
- Moscow's defence minister says Russia will send additional troops to the Belgorod border region, where authorities earlier declared a state of emergency.
- Russia says it has evacuated 200,000 people so far from border regions.
- The UN rights office has asked Moscow to allow a visit to border areas affected by Ukraine's cross-border attack.
Yesterday's key developments:
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday on Telegram that humanitarian aid and a temporary military administration may be needed in the Kursk region as Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk outlined plans for a "security zone" with humanitarian assistance and evacuation corridors for civilians looking to flee.
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The head of Russia's Belgorod region declared a state of emergency, saying the situation was "extremely difficult" in the border region.
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Kyiv has put the chance of peace talks with Russia "on a long pause" by attacking the Kursk region, a Russian special envoy said. Kyiv has said its incursion into Russian territory was a way of forcing Moscow to the negotiating table.
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Russia's air defences destroyed 117 drones and four tactical missiles launched overnight by Ukraine targeting several regions including Kursk, its defence ministry said.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
