Authorities in Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions have ordered the evacuation of border areas as Ukrainian forces make advances into Russian territory.

Over 76,000 people have been temporarily relocated in the Kursk region since Ukrainian forces crossed the border.

Nikolai Volobuyev, head of Kursk’s Belovsky district, urged residents to flee after Ukrainian advances, despite Russia’s Defense Ministry claiming to have repelled the incursion.

In the neighboring Belgorod region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov also ordered evacuations, the Moscow Times has reported.

Russia has launched counterterrorism operations in the border regions, while Ukraine has remained silent on the offensive.

Ukrainian President Zelensky hinted at the fighting, stating Kyiv is pushing the war into the aggressor’s territory.

Written by B.C. Begley