In a rare acknowledgment of public discontent, officials in Russia’s Kursk border region, partially occupied by Ukraine, have committed to efforts aimed at securing the return of Russian civilians stranded behind the front lines. This response comes after families of the missing voiced their frustration over a lack of information and action from authorities.
Last August, Ukraine launched a surprise offensive into the Kursk region, capturing numerous towns and villages, which left hundreds of residents unable to evacuate. Many now find themselves in Ukrainian-controlled territory, cut off from communication with Russia.
Mikhail Shumakov, Kursk’s acting information minister, addressed the concerns in a letter, stating that federal agencies and local government are “constantly” working to locate and return the residents of the Kursk region who have lost contact with their families. His comments followed public criticism from relatives like Lyubov Prilutskaya, who has been actively raising awareness of the situation through social media and interviews. Her parents have been missing since the offensive began.
Relatives of the missing have taken to social media, posting photos and calling for assistance from both the Russian government and international organizations. They report that approximately 3,000 civilians are still in Kyiv-controlled areas of the Sudzha district.
Authorities in Kursk have admitted that a list of 517 missing persons published by rights ombudswoman Tatiana Moskalkova is “not comprehensive.” Meanwhile, a Ukrainian military spokesman indicated that around 2,000 civilians remain in the territory under Kyiv’s control.
In a further testament to the growing unrest, local residents who were displaced by the conflict staged protests in Kursk, demanding better conditions for evacuees and direct communication with authorities. As the situation unfolds, the pressure on Kursk officials to address the plight of these civilians intensifies.
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