When Russian tanks and armoured vehicles invaded Ukraine in February 2022, many were daubed with “Z” symbols in white paint – a marking that, back in Russia, has become synonymous with support for Vladimir Putin’s war.

Kyiv’s incursion into Kursk entered its seventh day on Monday. Panic spread to the Belgorod region, and its governor announced that residents of the Krasnaya Yaruga district, located on the frontier with Ukraine, would be evacuated because of military activity.

Belgorod neighbours the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces began their cross-border raid on August 6.

On Monday, Tass, the state news agency, reported that 11,000 people had been evacuated. “It has been an alarming morning,” said Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Belgorod governor. “[There has been] enemy activity on the border of Krasnaya Yaruga district.”

Mr Gladkov said Russian soldiers would be able to “cope with the threat that has arisen”, but added: “In order to protect the lives and health of our population, we are starting to move people who live in Krasnaya Yaruga district to safer places.”