A senior Ukrainian intelligence official has said the Kursk and Belgorod regions of Russia are now active combat zones.
Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for the GUR intelligence directorate, made the comments to Ukrainian national television after anti-Kremlin groups said they had attacked Russian forces in the regions.
"Kursk and Belgorod regions are now an area of active combat actions. This is what we confirm," he said, stressing the groups are acting independently and are not under Kyiv's control.
"And as stated by the volunteers and rebels, we are talking about Russian citizens who, having no other options, are defending their civil right with arms against the Putin regime."
Three Ukraine-based groups said they were pursuing armed operations in Belgorod and Kursk regions and asked residents to evacuate localities for their own safety yesterday.
