Ukraine’s Kursk attack shows no signs of slowing down

It has been seven days since Ukraine began its attack on the Russian region of Kursk – with Ukrainian soldiers launching the first successful cross-border invasion of Russia since the second world war. 

Still, Ukraine is showing no signs yet of slowing down. This morning, local authorities in the neighbouring Russian region of Belgorod announced that the evacuation of civilians from the area had begun. This is the second Russian region to evacuate since Kyiv’s invasion began last Tuesday.

Addressing the escalating situation in a video on his social media channels, Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote: ‘This morning is an alarming one, there is enemy activity on the border of the Krasnoyaruzhsky region.’ He warned that the area was on alert for missile attacks and that those who have not yet left should seek shelter immediately. 

The large – albeit delayed – scale of Russia’s civilian evacuation hints at the panic on the ground.