Russia moves troops from southern Ukraine amid Kyiv's offensive

"Russia has withdrawn some troops from southern Ukraine back to its territory to try to repel the growing invasion of Kyiv forces," reports Politico, citing a spokesman for the Ukrainian army. The head of Lithuania's Ministry of National Defence, Laurynas Kasčiūnas, also noted that Russia is sending soldiers from Kaliningrad to defend the Kursk region.

On Monday, representatives of Russia's central and regional authorities discussed, among other things, the situation in the Kursk and Belgorod regions. The problem is much more difficult in the former, where, according to official information from Governor Alexei Smirnov, Ukraine has taken control of 28 localities. On Tuesday, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that Ukraine controls 74 localities.

"Kyiv, through its actions in the Kursk region, is trying to improve its negotiating position in the future," stated Vladimir Putin.

Politico reports that "Russia has withdrawn some troops from southern Ukraine back to its territory to try to repel the growing invasion of Kyiv forces."

In an interview with the editorial office, Dmytro Lykhovyi, the spokesman for the "Tavria” operational-strategic group of troops, said that some Russian units from the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions have been relocated. However, the spokesman added that it was a "relatively small" number of units. Despite this, Russia continues its offensive in Pokrovsk and other places in the Donetsk region in Ukraine.

"We still need to determine if this is not a smokescreen," Lykhovyi warns.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas also informed Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia is sending soldiers from Kaliningrad to defend the Kursk region, which Ukrainians have attacked for several days, Reuters reported.

Currently, the head of the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence is on a visit to Kyiv, where he met with Zelensky. They discussed the development of the defence industry and Ukraine's priority defence needs.

Last week, the Ukrainian army attacked the Kursk region in Russia. This is the first incursion of foreign troops into Russian territory since 1941.