Ukraine's Sumy Oblast to Evacuate Residents Amid Escalating Warfare

On the 13th, it was reported that the authorities of Ukraine's Sumy Oblast decided to forcibly evacuate residents from eight settlements adjacent to Russia's Kursk Oblast due to the "escalation of the battle situation" in this area.

The report quoted an official from the Sumy Oblast Military Administration as saying that the decision on forced evacuation was made by the Sumy Oblast Defense Council based on the advice of the Ukrainian military. A total of 543 people, including children, need to evacuate as soon as possible. However, some residents do not intend to evacuate and have signed agreements refusing to be evacuated.

The Sumy Oblast in Ukraine borders the Kursk Oblast in Russia, and the above - mentioned eight settlements are about 10 kilometers from the border between the two countries.

On the 13th, Russia stated that the Russian military's operation in the Kursk Oblast had entered the final stage. In the process of pursuing the Ukrainian military, the Russian military crossed the border and entered the Sumy Oblast in Ukraine in some directions.