TASS quoted Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov as saying: "I sincerely tell you that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a decision. I am sure that all those responsible will be heavily punished for their actions in Kursk province," Antonov said.
Ukrainian forces began a major attack on Kursk province on August 6, 2024. missile attack warnings have been issued continuously in the area since then and the government has declared a federal emergency there.
According to Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, about 115,000 people have been resettled from dangerous areas near the border.
Kursk Province's interim governor Alexey Smirnov said more than 133,000 people have fled their homes along the border in the province. Temporary accommodation centers for Kursk residents who have left their homes have been opened in 29 regions of Russia.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine has lost more than 4,700 servicemen and 68 tanks since the start of the fighting in Kursk.
In another development, President Vladimir Putin said at a cabinet meeting on August 22 that Ukrainian forces planned to attack Russia's Kursk nuclear power plant overnight.
Last night, the enemy intended to attack the nuclear plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been notified. IAEA has promised to go and send experts to assess the situation. I hope they will really do so, Putin said at a cabinet meeting.
An IAEA spokesperson told AFP that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi had accepted the invitation and planned to visit Kursk next week. He will then go to Kiev and discuss with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to Mr. Grossi, IAEA is very concerned about any combat operations near the Kursk nuclear power plant, because the facility operates the same type of reactor as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
They dont have a protective arch around them, just a normal one, which means the reactors core is quite exposed, said Grossi.
