INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Around 20,000 Russian civilians remain in border areas of the southwestern Kursk region, authorities said Thursday, coming after more than
133,000 people were evacuated amid clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces.Acting Kursk region Governor Alexei Smirnov provided the
that the number of people killed during the fighting in the Kursk region has more than doubled from the official figure of 12 people.Smirnov
last gave a civilian death toll at a meeting with Putin on Aug
12, during which the Russian president abruptly interrupted the governor when he reported on Ukrainian military advances in the embroiled
region.Putin said Thursday that he planned to hold a separate call with Smirnov later in the day.
