Kursk region families seek missing relatives after Ukrainian incursion

Hundreds of families in Russia's Kursk region continue to search for relatives missing following the Ukrainian military incursion in August 2024. While the regional governor reports that over 300 people remain missing, families express doubt regarding the accuracy of this figure.

During the initial six days of the incursion, Ukrainian forces seized more than 777 square kilometers of Russian territory. Russian authorities estimate that approximately 2,000 civilians remained in the captured settlements. Many residents reported a total loss of mobile and internet connectivity during the period, and a request signed by nearly 200 Russians for a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians was never realized.

Families have accused Russian state media of providing misleading information by claiming the situation was under control, which some residents believe discouraged them from evacuating. In the absence of official updates, relatives have resorted to analyzing videos from journalists and soldiers to identify missing or deceased loved ones.