Russians Evacuated as Ukraine's Incursion Turns Kursk into War Zone

Residents are being evacuated from Russia's Kursk region after Ukrainian forces conducted a series of cross border raids on Tuesday, with videos on social media showing scenes akin to a war zone.

Alexei Smirnov, acting governor for the region said on Telegram that five civilians have been killed and 20 others have been injured as fierce clashes ensue. The situation is "controllable", he said.

Both Ukraine and Russia deny targeting civilians in the war. Newsweek has contacted Ukrainian authorities for comment by email.

Ukrainian troops have so far captured at least six Russian servicemen, according to the Russian Telegram channel Pepel. Independent Russian publication iStories identified two of the men as 22-year-old Danil Kolesnikov and 21-year-old Maksim Khyamelyainen, who were reportedly captured as they attempted to cross the border into Ukraine.

Kursk borders Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region.

Some 90 percent of residents from Kursk's Sudzhansky District have been evacuated from four settlements, RBC Ukraine reported. Others in the region have complained about a lack of shelters, and some have directed their complaints to governor Smirnov, writing: "When will you set up shelters? How long will you torment people?"

Russia's Ministry of Defense said its forces have pushed back a number of raids attempts by Ukraine near Nikolayevo-Darino and Oleshnya in Kursk.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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