UPDATE - Russian authorities declare mandatory evacuation of another district in Kursk region

REVISES HEADLINE, DECK AND LEDE; ADDS LATEST STATEMENT BY KURSK GOVERNOR, MORE BACKGROUND; EDITS THROUGHOUT

​​​​​​​By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian authorities declared a mandatory evacuation Wednesday of a village and district in the country’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces began an incursion last week.

Kursk Gov. Alexey Smirnov said on Telegram that the operational headquarters established in the region decided on the mandatory evacuation of Glushkovsky district, which borders Ukraine’s Sumy region.

Around two hours earlier, Smirnov reported a similar decision for the village of Glushkovo -- about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Glushkovo is located 117 kilometers (72.7 miles) southwest of the city of Kursk.

Smirnov said the evacuation process will be coordinated by law enforcement agencies, the Russian military and local government.

He said Monday that a decision on the mandatory evacuation of Belovsky district was made by the operational headquarters.

Last week, intensified shelling in Kursk was followed by an incursion of Ukrainian infantry, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, into the border region, particularly near the city of Sudzha, about 10 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Authorities in Kursk have said that 28 settlements in the region are under Ukrainian control and 12 people have been killed and 121 injured since the incursion into the border region. Kyiv has claimed that it took control of 74 settlements.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kyiv of carrying out a “large-scale provocation” and “indiscriminate shooting,” while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that it was an "operation" by Ukraine's troops.

Smirnov also declared that 121,000 residents of the region have already been evacuated, with 59,000 others preparing to do the same.