Ukrainian Army Commander Oleksandr Sersky announced on Friday that the attack in the Russian Kursk region had achieved further progress, according to Reuters.

Sirsky told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video clip posted on social media, “The attacking forces (in the Kursk region) continue to fight and have advanced in some areas from one to three kilometers towards the enemy.”

In turn, the Russian authorities announced on Friday that they would work to evacuate five villages located near the Ukrainian border in the Belgorod region, noting that the aforementioned area is adjacent to Kursk, which is targeted by a large-scale Ukrainian attack.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram: “As of August 19, we will close the roads leading to five villages, evacuate residents and help move property,” explaining that access to a sixth village will also be “temporarily” blocked.

In addition, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Friday that Kiev's unprecedented attack on Russia aims to "persuade" Moscow to engage in a "fair negotiation process" by inflicting "major tactical defeats."

 Presidential Assistant Mykhailo Podolyak said on the X platform: “In the Kursk region, we can clearly see how the military tool is being used objectively, to persuade Russia to enter into a fair negotiation process.”