Russia reallocates forces to defend Kursk amid Ukrainian advances

"Russia pulled some troops out of southern Ukraine and back into its own territory to try to fend off an escalating incursion by Kyiv’s forces," reports Politico, citing a spokesperson 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.

"Ukraine's biggest attack on Russian territory since the start of the war was aimed at improving Kyiv's negotiating position ahead of possible peace talks and at slowing the advance of Russian forces," stated Reuters, quoting Vladimir Putin.

Politico reports that "Russia pulled some troops out of southern Ukraine and back into its own territory to try to fend off an escalating incursion by Kyiv’s forces."

In an interview with the editorial office, Dmytro Lykhovyi, spokesperson for the "Tavria" operational-strategic group of troops, said that some Russian units from the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions have been relocated. However, the spokesperson 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.

Lithuanian Defense 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.

The head of the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence is currently visiting 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.