Russia’s Emergency Ministry has declared a federal state of emergency in the Kursk region.
In a short statement, the ministry acknowledged that the federal response level was established in response to the surprise offensive into Russia by Ukrainian forces that is now in its fourth day.
A local state of emergency had been in effect since Wednesday, August 7, 2024.
Russia’s Defence Ministry announced that it is moving more troops and weapons to the southwestern region of Kursk as it battles the Ukrainian assault.
The ministry was quoted as saying that Russia is moving army units with “BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, towed artillery guns, tanks, heavy tracked vehicles, Ural and Kamaz trucks” to Kursk’s Sudzhansky district.
Russian authorities have evacuated thousands of citizens from the Kursk region as local officials are still issuing warnings about active missile threats amid the Ukrainian offensive.
Alexey Smirnov, the acting Governor of Kursk stated that the situation in the Kursk Region remains complicated, adding that a system of assistance to forced resettlers has been organized.
Smirnov said that affected citizens can benefit from “additional financial assistance” approved by the government that will arrive soon.
He added that citizens can receive a general payment as victims of the emergency situation, a payment for damage to health, another for loss of property, and a final payment reserved for family members of people killed.
According to Smirnov, further details will be announced when the funds are available for disbursement.
He also warned citizens against filming air defence activity as it could assist inadvertently the Ukrainian military.
A humanitarian aid warehouse has been deployed in Kursk, where relief supplies from other regions of Russia are pouring in. Reserves of electric power generators, bottled water and medicines have been created.
Ukraine’s Russia Incursion Deemed ‘Consistent’ With US Policy On Weapons Use
Meanwhile, Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, told reporters that Ukraine is “taking actions to protect itself” and its incursion across its border with Russia is in line with US policy regarding the use of American weapons.
“They are taking actions to protect themselves from attacks that are coming from a region that are within the US policy of where they can operate, our weapons, our systems, our capabilities,” Singh said, according to a transcript from the US Department of Defense’s website.
“It is consistent with our policy, and we have supported Ukraine from the very beginning to defend themselves against attacks that are coming across the border and for the need for crossfires,” she added.
Singh stressed that Ukraine is aware of the limits of the policy regarding the use of US weapons but declined to provide specifics.
“We don’t support long-range attacks into [Russia]. We’ve said that from the very beginning. I’m not going to draw, you know, a circular map here for you of where they can and can’t strike, but we’ve been very clear with the Ukrainians.”
Sabrina Singh
Separately, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that it does not see reasons for concerns regarding nuclear safety and security of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant amid the attack of the Ukrainian army against the Kursk Region.
The agency’s press service told a news agency that the IAEA is following reports about recent developments and has channels of communication open to both sides of the conflict.
“IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterates that all nuclear power plants, regardless of where they are situated, should never be a target of an armed attack,” the press service added.
READ ALSO: Polish Diplomats Call for Release of Citizens Detained in Nigeria
