Russia declares federal state of emergency in border region

Russia’s emergency ministry has declared a federal state of emergency in the Kursk region, Al Jazeera reports.

A federal response level has been established in response to the surprise offensive into Russia by Ukrainian forces that is now in its fourth day, the ministry said in a short statement. A local state of emergency had been in effect since Wednesday.

Ukraine carried out a significant air attack on a Russian airfield in Lipetsk, hundreds of kilometres behind the front lines. Six people were injured in the attack.  Lipetsk lies about 460 kilometres (286 miles) south of Moscow and about 300 kilometres (190 miles) from Ukraine’s eastern border. Four villages were being evacuated after a local state of emergency was declared in the Lipetsk municipal district.

The attacks come after Russia said it was engaged in fierce battles in the Kursk region after 1,000 Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and armoured vehicles launched a cross-border raid on August 6.

Overnight Monday to Tuesday, Ukraine intensified shelling of the Kursk region. The artillery barrage was followed by an incursion of Ukrainian infantry, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, near the city of Sudzha.

Meanwhile, Ukraine President Zelenskyy says a Russian artillery hit a supermarket and post office in the Ukrainian town of Kostiantynivka, killing at least four people and wounding 24.