In a tense escalation of the ongoing border conflict, Ukraine is preparing for further Russian attacks in response to its recent incursion into the Kursk region. Russian authorities have announced the reinforcement of troops, tanks, artillery, and rocket systems, heightening fears of an imminent counteroffensive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a video address, acknowledged the operation in Kursk, describing it as part of Ukraine's quest for justice following Russia's invasion in 2022.

President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the defense forces for their efforts in pushing the war onto the aggressor's territory. His remarks came shortly after Russia implemented "anti-terrorism measures" in Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk, with restrictions on transport and tightened security around critical sites. These actions, imposed by the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, are seen as a response to Ukraine's alleged destabilization attempts in the affected regions, according to the RIA news agency.

More than 76,000 people have been evacuated from areas in the Kursk region, according to the local emergency ministry. Ukraine launched a surprise offensive on Tuesday, marking the most significant attack across the border since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The unexpected success of Ukraine's advance has reportedly caught Russia off guard, prompting the deployment of additional troops and munitions near the Kursk border in preparation for a possible counteroffensive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced Ukraine's incursion as a "large-scale provocation," while the military's Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov vowed to crush it. In response to the situation in Kursk, Russian authorities have declared a "federal-level" state of emergency in the region. Meanwhile, the conflict has already claimed civilian lives, as a Russian missile struck a supermarket in the town of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 people and the injury of 43 others.

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin condemned the targeting of civilians, emphasizing that no situation on the battlefield justifies such actions. The regional governor of Donetsk, Vadym Filashkin, revealed that a Kh-38 air-to-surface missile was used in the attack. As tensions heighten, volunteers in Ukraine's northern Sumy region are working fervently to evacuate residents and their pets from 28 villages in a 10km border zone. The anticipation of further Russian attacks has prompted Sumy Governor Volodymyr Artiukh to order the evacuation, affecting around 20,000 people.

The situation continues to escalate on the Ukraine-Russia border, with both sides preparing for further clashes. The international community remains on high alert, calling for calm and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Efforts are ongoing to mitigate the humanitarian impact and protect innocent lives caught in the crossfire of this heightened border dispute.