Mass evacuation in Kursk region. Russian authorities invented a new term.

In the Khomutovsky district of the Kursk region, the authorities have started a "voluntary evacuation" of local residents for their safety. This was reported by Russian media.

"Despite the calm situation in our district and no hostilities taking place, the organized departure of residents for safety continues, both individually on personal vehicles and centrally on prepared vehicles," said the head of the district Yuri Khrulov in his telegram channel.

In reality, the situation in Kursk is far from calm. Russia has already evacuated more than 76 thousand people from the region. According to the Russian Emergencies Ministry, over 4,300 people are in 60 temporary accommodation centers.

It is worth mentioning that Russian soldiers are preparing to defend the Kursk NPP due to the approaching Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to journalists, Russian law enforcement officers have already blocked the approaches to the Kursk nuclear power plant.

It was also reported that Vladimir Putin held an operational meeting with permanent members of the Security Council regarding the situation in Kursk. The Russian Ministry of Defense also recognized the presence of hostilities in the Kursk region and their spread to the city of Sudzha.

In addition, the Russian Ministry of Defense has reinforced the armed forces in the Sudzha district with rocket artillery, artillery, and heavy armored vehicles to destroy Ukrainian units.

Analysts believe that Russia may have declared a counterterrorism operation (CTO) to mitigate the consequences of the Ukrainian invasion in the Kursk region. According to ISW, this decision is intended to reduce panic and negative population reaction.