Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. (Photo: Sputnik)

The decision was made at a meeting of the Coordinating Council on Military Security of Border Territories in Moscow, presided over by Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, who ordered the formation of Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk military groups named after three Russian regions bordering Ukraine.

Belousov appointed officials to take charge of border security. He said the representative of the General Staff of the armed forces of the Russian Federation and the commanders of the Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk groups will be responsible for protecting citizens and territories from attacks by drones and other means of attack.

The Russian Defense Ministry last week set up a coordination council for security in the three border provinces mentioned. The council members include leaders of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff and the heads of the three provinces. The Defense Minister himself will head the council.

The TASS news agency reported that the Russian Ministry of Emergencies says more than 122,000 people have left the Kursk region's border districts, where the Ukrainian army launched a sudden attack into Russian territory on August 6.