The administration of Bolshesoldatsky District in Kursk Oblast has started accepting evacuation requests, as reported by the district head, Vladimir Zaitsev, on August 13.
"As of yesterday, there were no requests. I understand that many people remain, but they don't want to leave. Please write here [in the comments under the post if you need anything: food, water, evacuation," wrote Vladimir Zaitsev.
Shortly afterward, Zaitsev deleted all the messages left under his post and closed the comments. The district head claimed that his account had been hacked but assured that all deleted evacuation requests are being processed.
Bolshesoldatsky District is located 8 kilometers from the village of Martynovka in Sudzhansky District, where Ukrainian troops have reportedly advanced, according to military correspondents. Battles are also taking place within Bolshesoldatsky District itself.
As a result, evacuation is now underway in seven districts of Kursk Oblast: Sudzhansky, Bolshesoldatsky, Belovsky, Korenevsky, Lgovsky, Rylsky, and Khomutovsky. Residents of Krasnoyaruzhsky District in neighboring Belgorod Oblast are also being evacuated.
According to the acting head of Kursk Oblast, Alexey Smirnov, as of August 12, 121,000 residents out of the planned 180,000 have been evacuated from the border districts. Another 11,000 have left Krasnoyaruzhsky District in Belgorod Oblast, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.