Russia Evacuates Thousands Amid Ongoing Ukrainian Incursion

Russia began evacuating thousands more from border areas on Thursday, as Ukraine claimed it continues to advance following a surprise incursion into Russian territory aimed at forcing Moscow to slow its progress along the front. The largest foreign assault on Russian soil since World War II commenced on August 6 when thousands of Ukrainian soldiers breached Russia's western border. Supported by groups of drones, heavy artillery, and tanks, Ukrainian units have since managed to seize control of parts of Russian territory. Fighting continues along a front approximately 18 kilometers deep into Russian land on Thursday. Alexey Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk, stated that the Glushkov area, which has a population of 20,000, is being evacuated. At least 200,000 people have been evacuated from border areas so far, according to Russian data. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Thursday that its forces shot down Ukrainian drones over the neighboring Belgorod region and that Su-34 bombers struck Ukrainian positions in Kursk.