Russia announced today the evacuation of residents from part of the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, due to a Ukrainian attack and in the context of an armed Ukrainian raid on the neighboring Russian region of Kursk.

“The morning is looking worrisome here: there are hostile activities at the border of the Krasnaya Yaruga District,” said Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, in a video on Telegram. “For the safety of our population’s lives and health, we are starting to relocate” the residents of this area, he clarified.

“I’m sure our soldiers will do everything to counter the threat that has emerged,” Gladkov added.

Kyiv has increased military activity near the border just days after its largest raid on Russian territory since the war began in 2022.

Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Russian territory last Tuesday and attacked certain western parts of Russia’s Kursk region. It was a surprise attack, which Reuters reports may aim to give Ukraine an advantage in potential ceasefire talks after the U.S. elections.

Yesterday, Sunday, Russia, caught off guard by the Ukrainian attack, stabilized the front in the Kursk region, although fighting continues today in a portion of Russian territory, according to Russian war bloggers.