The Ukrainian operation in Russia’s Kursk region began in late July with several days of airstrikes before Kyiv’s ground forces quickly advanced several miles deep into Russian territory on August 6.
The high stakes of that gamble were highlighted Friday by authorities in the eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk urging civilians to speed up their evacuation as the Russian military is closing in after months of intense fighting.
The settlements sit south of Korenovo, a Russian border town around which heavy clashes have been taking place for more than a week and a half.
Ukrainian troops have destroyed another key bridge in the Kursk region, as they continue their campaign inside Russia.