Ukraine Restricts Civilian Movements In Border Region

Ukraine is restricting the movement of civilians within a 20-kilometre zone bordering Russia in the northern Sumy region.

Kyiv’s general staff made the announcement on Tuesday as Ukrainian forces pressed on with a lightning incursion into Russia’s neighbouring Kursk region that has caused more than 100,000 civilians to flee their homes.

Ukraine’s air force said on Tuesday that Russia launched 38 attack drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, while Russia’s Defence ministry said its air Defence units destroyed 12 Ukrainian drones over the Kursk region.

Ukraine’s top military commander claimed on Monday that his forces controlled 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory in Kursk region, the first time a Ukrainian military official has publicly commented on the gains of Kyiv’s lightning incursion.

Meanwhile, the United States has expressed concerns over reports that Iran is planning to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia with State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel, warning of a severe” US response if Iran moves forward with the transfer.

The governor of Russia’s Kursk region told President Vladimir Putin on Monday that 121,000 people have left or been evacuated from the front-line zone since Ukrainian troops and armour crossed the border early last week.

Governor Alexei Smirnov said Ukraine now controls 28 settlements in the border province and that Kyiv’s forces have advanced 12kilometers into Russian territory.

Earlier, Ukrainians poured into the Kursk region from several directions early on August 6, quickly overwhelming checkpoints and fortifications manned by lightly armed border guards and infantry along the 245km shared frontier.