As clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces continue in the border districts, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has issued a warning, stating that Ukraine must be prepared to receive refugees from Russia's Kursk region if the humanitarian situation worsens. Vereshchuk announced the launch of a telephone hotline for Kursk region residents seeking humanitarian assistance or evacuation to Ukraine, emphasizing that Ukraine would adhere to international humanitarian laws.

To ensure the safety of Russian civilians living in areas under Ukrainian control, Vereshchuk reassured them that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) would establish humanitarian corridors for their evacuation to either Russia or Ukraine. Furthermore, she stated that international humanitarian organizations would be granted access to the occupied areas to monitor the situation closely.

Vereshchuk outlined the primary objective of the AFU's incursion into the Kursk region as the creation of a "security zone", enabling Ukraine to protect its own border regions more effectively, specifically mentioning the northeastern Sumy region. This region has been subjected to almost daily shelling since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine two and a half years ago.

In accordance with Vereshchuk's remarks, Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko echoed the establishment of a "buffer zone" by the AFU in the Kursk region, clarifying that it aimed to safeguard the border communities from constant enemy shelling.

Emphasizing the dire conditions faced by civilians in the affected areas of the Kursk region, Klymenko stated that Russia had neglected their basic necessities, leaving them abandoned. The AFU has been reporting the needs of these civilians to Ukraine's Interior Ministry for immediate action.

Meanwhile, acting Kursk Governor Alexey Smirnov announced on Thursday the "mandatory evacuation" of the Glushkovsky district, which shares a border with Ukraine. This marks the first time that regional authorities have specified an evacuation order as mandatory.

According to Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations, the majority of residents in Kursk region districts bordering Ukraine have been temporarily resettled in 143 facilities across 11 different Russian regions, ensuring their safety. Over 8,000 people have already been rehoused.

In a live report from the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region, Ukrainian news channel TSN showcased the intense clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces. The report highlighted the plight of residents who described being abandoned by the Russian government and forced to seek shelter in basements as they endured shelling from the Russian military, deployed to push back the advancing AFU.

As the conflict in the Kursk region persists, Ukraine remains committed to adhering to international humanitarian standards, preparing itself for a potential influx of refugees and providing aid to those affected by the ongoing violence.