The Defense Forces provide humanitarian aid to civilians in the territory of Kursk region (Russia), which is under Ukrainian control, and do not detain anyone there, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.

"We have never detained anyone. (…) those who wanted to leave, are leaving. We provide humanitarian aid, we have commandant's offices. In this regard, the situation has stabilized," Umerov said at the Ukraine 2024. Independence forum on Tuesday in Kyiv, answering a question about the possible creation of a humanitarian corridor for residents of Kursk region.

The minister said Ukraine is helping residents on Russian territory "in accordance with all international norms and standards."

On August 22, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereschuk said Russia had not asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to open a humanitarian corridor for residents of Kursk region.

She said according to the norms, Ukraine is obliged to announce the possibility of opening such a corridor, but Russia, if it is concerned about its population, is obliged to request such a corridor through the ICRC, which has the appropriate mandate.

"Russia has essentially abandoned these people and is not dealing with them," the deputy prime minister said.