A Russian battle tank T-72 drives outside the town of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk region on August 8, 2024. (AFP)

Russia's National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) announced late Friday that "counterterrorism measures" have been implemented in Russia's Kursk Region and two neighboring regions in response to a Ukrainian incursion.

This comes shortly after Ukraine assaulted the region, marking the most significant attack on Russian soil since the onset of the conflict between the two nations.

The Kremlin labeled the assault a major provocation and accused Ukrainian forces of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Kiev has stated that one of the goals of the incursion was to instill fear in the Russian populace and erode their support for the government.

In a related development, Russia rapidly deployed additional troops and equipment, including convoys of tanks, rocket launchers, and aviation units.

At least 76,000 civilians have been evacuated from border areas in Russia, where emergency aid and medical supplies have been delivered. Extra trains have been arranged to Moscow for those seeking to escape.

Russia's military reported that Ukraine initially sent approximately 1,000 troops along with over two dozen armored vehicles and tanks.

Russia declares emergency on federal level in Kursk region

The Russian Ministry of Emergencies' (EMERCOM) press office informed Sputnik on Friday that the situation in the Kursk Region of Russia has been declared an emergency at the federal level.

In a statement, the EMERCOM office said, "On 9 August, an extraordinary meeting of the government commission for the prevention and elimination of emergencies and ensuring fire safety took place. On the agenda of the discussion was the situation in the territory of the Kursk Region due to the attack by the Ukrainian armed forces. A response at the federal level has been established in the region."

Since the beginning of their attempted invasion in Russia's Kursk Region, Ukrainian military units have lost up to 945 soldiers and 102 military vehicles; however, the operation to defeat forces is still ongoing, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday.

The statement added, "In total, since the beginning of hostilities in the Kursk direction, the enemy's losses have amounted to 945 service people and 102 units of armored vehicles, including 12 tanks, 17 armored personnel carriers, six infantry fighting vehicles, 67 armored combat vehicles," adding that Kiev lost up to 280 soldiers and 27 military vehicles in the past 24 hours.