Ukraine war: Russia rushes reinforcements to Kursk, emergency declared in Lipetsk

As Russia battled it out with the Ukrainian forces on its border region ofKursk, Russia’s Lipetsk too came under an intense assault by Ukrainian drones on Thursday (Aug 8). Ukrainian forces targeted a key military airfield there, roughly 300 km deep inside the Russian territory, said Ukraine’s general staff of command.

The attack forced Moscow to declare an emergency in another Russian region, following a similar order for Kursk. At least four villages in the region had to be evacuated.

“Several sources of ignition were recorded, a strong fire broke out and multiple detonations were observed,” said the Ukrainian military. It claimed the targeted airfield housed aircraft like Su-34, Su-34 and MiG-31.

Russia’s Lipetsk Governor Igor Artamonov took toTelegram and said that the drone attack damaged an energy infrastructure facility, leading to power supply disruptions. He alsoannounced a state of emergency in the municipal district.

At least 10 killed in Russian strike on Donetsk supermarket

Russia on Friday (Aug 9) targeted a supermarket in the eastern Ukrainian town of Kostiantynivka, allegedly killing at least 10 people and wounding 35 others.

"Ten were killed and 35 others were wounded," Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko wrote on Telegram. President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said on X that some victims were still buried under the rubble.

Russia sending reinforcements to Kursk

The Russian defence ministry said it was moving more forces to the besieged territory of Kursk as the Ukrainian offensive entered its second week on Friday.

Russia is bringing reinforcements with "BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, towed artillery guns, tanks transported on trawls, heavy tracked vehicles, Ural and Samaz trucks" into the Sudzhansky District of Kursk, reported the local media.

Ukraine also evacuated 20,000 people

Meanwhile, Ukraine was also evacuating thousands from areas across the border from Russia's Kursk region.

Watch:Russia should feel what it has done to Ukraine, says President Zelenskyy

Ukrainian police said "about 20,000 people need to be evacuated" from 28 settlements in Sumy region, a sharp increase from a previous estimate of6,000people.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)