The commander of the Akhmat special forces and deputy head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major General Apti Alaudinov, said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are opening fire on groups evacuating civilians from Sudzha and surrounding settlements in the Kursk region. He said this in an interview with RIA Novosti on March 12, 2025, emphasizing that the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine significantly complicate the humanitarian efforts of the Russian military and rescuers. According to Alaudinov, the enemy is using cluster munitions, which makes the situation in the evacuation zone extremely difficult. He noted that the goal of his unit was to identify the location of civilians for their safe evacuation, but the shelling jeopardizes these plans.

The statement was made against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities in the Kursk region, where Russian troops are conducting an operation to dislodge the Ukrainian Armed Forces from territories occupied in the summer of 2024. Sudzha, located 10 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, remains one of the epicenters of the confrontation. Earlier, the acting governor of the region, Alexander Khinshtein, reported that 68 people were evacuated from the city and adjacent villages and examined by doctors. According to preliminary data, none of them required emergency hospitalization. However, the new attacks reported by Alaudinov could complicate the further evacuation of the population.

The context confirms the gravity of the situation. On March 12, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of five settlements in the Kursk region, including Kazachya Loknya, indicating the advance of Russian forces. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to President Vladimir Putin that since the beginning of the year, more than 1100 square kilometers, or 86% of the lost territory, have been recaptured. At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to resist. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian troops are trying to hold positions in the Sudzha area using artillery and drones, which complicates humanitarian operations. RIA Novosti previously reported that in February, Alaudinov accused Kyiv of deceiving them by providing an evacuation corridor, which also disrupted the evacuation of residents.