Russia Declares Federal Emergency in Belgorod

Russian authorities have declared a national emergency in the Belgorod region, which borders Kursk, according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The head of the ministry, Alexander Kurenkov, said on Thursday: "The situation in the region remains complex and tense. As a result of terrorist attacks by Ukrainian armed groups in the Belgorod region, residential houses and infrastructure facilities have been damaged, there are dead and injured citizens."

It comes as Russia began evacuating thousands of people from border regions as Ukraine advances deeper into enemy territory amidst the ongoing cross-border incursion in Kursk.

Authorities in Kursk have ordered the population of its Glushkov district to evacuate, 20,000 people, according to acting governor Alexei Smirnov, on August 16.

Moscow has claimed that nearly 200,000 people were being evacuated following the attack.

The surprise offensive is the largest attack on Russian soil since the outbreak of World War II.

Adam Rutland, co-founder at the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), told Newsweek: "There is no doubt evacuated Russian civilians will be asking questions of their government. At home, there is equally no doubt that news of battlefield success will boost morale.

"This incursion isn't really about Ukraine's bargaining position: it is about changing the dynamics on the ground, showing its international supporters their redlines are meaningless, and; boosting morale at home—and maybe prompting some awkward questions in Russia."

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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