Russia’s Belgorod Declares Federal Emergency as Battles Rage in Next-Door Kursk

Almost 10 days into Kyiv’s cross-border offensive, Ukraine says its forces are still making headway as Moscow says Kursk is under ‘Russian troops’ control.’

Gunners from 43rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine fire at Russian position with a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer 2C22 "Bohdana" in the Kharkiv region amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine, on April 21, 2024. Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images

Russian authorities have declared a federal state of emergency in the western Belgorod region amid a continuing Ukrainian cross-border offensive in the neighboring region of Kursk.

“I propose designating the emergency situation in the Belgorod region as a federal emergency and launching a response at the federal level,” Alexander Kurenkov, Russia’s emergencies minister, said at a meeting on Aug. 15, according to Russian news agency TASS.