Russia Declares Kursk Oblast in a Federal State of Emergency

On August 9, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations issued a statement saying that by the resolution of the special meeting of the Government Commission for the Prevention and Elimination of Emergencies and Ensuring Fire Safety, Kursk Oblast has entered a federal state of emergency and a federal response mechanism has been established in the oblast.

RIA Novosti reported that the federal state of emergency is the highest level of emergency currently existing in Russia. According to previous reports by Russian media, the Ukrainian army has launched intensive attacks on Kursk Oblast since August 6, and the oblast has repeatedly sounded air raid sirens. The Ukrainian artillery shelling and drone attacks have killed several local residents and injured 66 others, including 9 children.

On the same day, the governor of Russia's Lipetsk Oblast, Artamonov, announced that given that Ukraine targeted civilians in Kursk Oblast and Belgorod Oblast, and Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Lipetsk Oblast on the same day, it was decided to cancel all entertainment activities in Lipetsk Oblast, but sports and family activities would be retained and security measures would be strengthened.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on social media on August 9 that Ukraine attacked a military airport in the Lipetsk region of Russia. The Ukrainian side pointed out that after the attack, it was found that the warehouse with guided aviation bombs near the airport and many other objects were hit, causing a fire and multiple explosions.

In addition, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement on August 9 saying that from the evening of the 8th to the early morning of the 9th local time, the Russian air defense system intercepted and shot down 75 Ukrainian drones in multiple locations, including 26 in Belgorod Oblast, 19 in Lipetsk Oblast and 7 in Kursk Oblast.

However, Sabrina Singh, the deputy press secretary of the US Department of Defense, tried to justify the Ukrainian army's attack on Kursk Oblast that caused civilian deaths on the 8th, saying that the actions of the Kyiv regime "conform to US policy". She said that the United States supports Ukraine in defending against cross-border attacks and retaliating when necessary, and the measures Ukraine is taking to defend against attacks are in line with US policy.

Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq said on the 8th that the United Nations has called on "all parties" to act responsibly to protect civilians regarding the incident of the Ukrainian army's attack on Kursk Oblast.