The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that at least 56 civilians have been killed and 266 wounded during Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s western Kursk region, which began on August 6, Reuters reports.
This marks an increase from an earlier death toll of 31 reported until September 5. The ministry also claimed that 131,000 civilians had evacuated the most dangerous areas but accused Ukrainian forces of holding 70-120 civilians against their will in Sudzha. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi rejected the claims, asserting that Ukraine adheres to international humanitarian law and does not target civilians.
Kyiv maintains that the incursion aims to prevent Russian forces from launching attacks into Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukrainian forces control 100 settlements in Kursk, a claim disputed by Russian sources, which say they have regained some territory in recent counterattacks.
