Ukraine announces bold new step; Russia speaks of consequences of "reckless and insane action".

He urged partners to allow long-range strikes against targets inside Russian territory, emphasizing: "The bolder the decisions of our partners, the less Russian President Vladimir Putin can accomplish."

On the same day, AFP quoted Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko as saying, after a meeting with President Zelensky and other officials, that the country's military would allow the evacuation of civilians from the Kursk province and create a buffer zone there.

"Creating a buffer zone in the Kursk province is a step toward protecting our border communities from the daily hostile shelling," said Klymenko.

Meanwhile, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, military forces "plan to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians, both toward Russia and toward Ukraine."

Ukraine also has plans for humanitarian operations, including those supported by international organizations.

In another development, Ukrainian human rights inspector Dmytro Lubinets said he had discussed with his Russian counterpart the issue of Russian prisoners captured in the cross-border attack in the Kursk province.

Russia has not commented on the reports, while its TASS news agency quoted Dmitry Polyansky, First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, as saying that Moscow would not ask the UN Security Council to meet about Ukraine's attack on the Kursk region.

He noted that now is not the time to call a Security Council meeting, emphasizing: " We have made our assessment and, frankly, it is up to Ukraine to convene the meeting, given the losses they are suffering in this completely reckless and insane operation."

Ukrainian armed forces launched a surprise attack on Russia's Kursk region on August 6, sending thousands of troops into the area, resulting in 12 civilian deaths and 121 injuries, including 10 children. More than 120,000 people have fled or been evacuated from the border districts of the Kursk region.

According to the Ministry of Defense, Kyiv has lost up to 2,300 servicemen, at least 37 tanks, and more than 32 armored personnel carriers since fighting began in the Kursk region.

In the latest developments regarding the situation in Kursk, Russian military units have stated that they have not detected any Ukrainian air activity in the area.