The Russian border region of Belgorod declared an emergency on Wednesday following new attacks by Ukrainian forces. The situation escalated after Kyiv claimed control of hundreds of square miles of Russian territory in a rare cross-border incursion.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov described the situation as extremely difficult and tense in a video message posted on his Telegram account. The region began evacuations on Monday due to Ukrainian advances, which started with an incursion into the neighboring Kursk region.
This marked the first time foreign troops had entered Russian territory since World War II, signaling a notable change in tactics for Ukraine. Regional authorities are now urging the Russian government to declare a federal emergency in response to the escalating conflict.
Two locations in Belgorod, the city of Shebekino and the village of Ustinka, were targeted by Ukrainian drones, resulting in damage to two residences but no casualties reported.
Tens of thousands of Russians have fled their homes as Moscow implements counter-terror operations in Kursk, Belgorod, and the border region of Bryansk to contain the attack. Kyiv claimed to have gained control of a significant amount of land, though it remains smaller than the total Ukrainian territory held by Russia since the conflict began in 2014.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian forces are in control of 74 settlements in Kursk and are preparing for further actions in the region. The incursion has proven to be a challenge for the Kremlin, with Russian President Vladimir Putin vowing to expel the enemy from Russian territory, despite the ongoing Ukrainian advance.
US President Joe Biden acknowledged the situation, stating that he is receiving regular updates and that the incursion poses a dilemma for Putin. The conflict continues to unfold, with both sides engaged in escalating tensions along the border.
