Ukraine has established a military administrative office in Russia’s western Kursk area, where its surprise incursion into Russian territory is still ongoing, according to its top military commander. Gen Oleksandr Syrsky stated that the office’s mission was to “maintain law and order” and “meet the immediate needs” of the local populace. In a video uploaded on social media, Gen Syrsky is seen telling a meeting convened by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the office has been established “on Ukrainian-controlled territories.” Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has stated that Moscow will send reinforcements to “safeguard” the residents in the region.

Ukraine also claimed to have gained additional gains during its operation on Thursday. Gen Syrsky reported that Ukrainian troops were 35 kilometers within the Kursk region, where they controlled 1,150 square kilometers of terrain, including 82 communities. Now in its tenth day, this is Ukraine’s most serious foray into Russia since Moscow launched its full-fledged invasion in 2022. But Kyiv has stated that it is not interested in “taking over” Russian land. Instead, the incursion is intended to put pressure on Moscow to agree to “restore a just peace,” Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhy told reporters on Wednesday.

In light of the incursion, Russian officials have planned “additional measures” to protect the population and infrastructure in Ukraine’s border districts. The efforts include enhancing “troop management” in the Belgorod region, which borders Kursk, according to a video posted on the Russian defense ministry’s Telegram account. According to Interfax, the plan will also apply to the Kursk and Bryansk regions. All three share a border with Ukraine. Russia has also declared a federal emergency in the Belgorod region. Tass, the Russian state news service, said on Monday that 11,000 people were evacuated from Belgorod’s Krasnaya Yaruga region.

In light of the intrusion, Russian officials are planning “additional measures” to protect the population and infrastructure in Ukraine’s border districts. The initiatives include improving “troop management” in the Belgorod region, which borders Kursk, according to a video broadcast on the Russian defense ministry’s Telegram channel. According to Interfax, the proposal will also apply in the Kursk and Bryansk regions. All three share a border with Ukraine. Russia has also declared a federal emergency in the Belgorod Region. Tass, the Russian state news service, said on Monday that 11,000 people had been evacuated from Belgorod’s Krasnaya Yaruga district.

The findings came after a UK source acknowledged to the BBC that UK-donated tanks were used during Russia’s foray into Ukraine. The UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the specific UK weaponry Ukraine has deployed, but the department maintained that Ukraine has a “clear right” to employ UK-supplied weapons for “self-defense against Russia’s illegal attacks.” The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to deploy contemporary Western battle tanks to Ukraine, donating 14 Challenger 2 tanks in the last year. However, that was for a Ukrainian invasion to retake its own territory. The Ministry of Defence has maintained that there has been no change in policy.