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| Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's top military officer in charge of defence... [+] |
⚫ Mahmud Hasan,Reporter:
Officials in Ukraine said Tuesday evening that Russia's claim that it will "fundamentally cut back military activity" near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the pursuit of peace is likely a ruse to "mislead the military leadership of Ukraine." This comes after the Pentagon framed Russia's move as a repositioning rather than a troop withdrawal.
⦾ The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Facebook on Tuesday that Russia is "regrouping" its forces to focus on eastern Ukraine, although the actions described by Russia as military withdrawals from Kyiv and Chernihiv are really rotations of individual units.
⦾ The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Facebook on Tuesday that Russia is "regrouping" its forces to focus on eastern Ukraine, although the actions described by Russia as military withdrawals from Kyiv and Chernihiv are really rotations of individual units.
⦾ These rotations, according to the Ukrainian military, were likely carried out to "create a misunderstanding" about Russia's intentions.
⦾ According to Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby, "a limited number" of Russian forces have left the Kyiv area, but the US is not willing to term the move a retreat or withdrawal because Russia is likely shifting troops to the eastern regions such as Donetsk and Luhansk.
⦾ Kirby added that the action "does not indicate that the threat to Kyiv is ended."
⦾ Russia's claimed pullback from Kyiv, according to White House spokesman Kate Bedingfield, is a "redeployment, not a withdrawal."
⦾ According to CNN, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his evening speech Tuesday that despite its protestations, Russia is "still seeking our annihilation," and alluded to continued attacks in other Ukrainian towns such as the besieged eastern city of Mariupol.
⦾ According to CNN, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his evening speech Tuesday that despite its protestations, Russia is "still seeking our annihilation," and alluded to continued attacks in other Ukrainian towns such as the besieged eastern city of Mariupol.
Russia said on Friday that it was transferring its forces east to concentrate on capturing Donetsk and Luhansk, often known as the Donbas area. Despite fierce opposition from Ukrainian soldiers near Kyiv, Russian authorities reaffirmed this week that the invasion's purpose was always to "liberate" the Donbas area, which has been largely controlled by pro-Russian separatist groups since 2014. Sergei Rudskoy, a Russian army officer, said the country's aim in assaulting Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine was to "seriously reduce" Ukraine's military capabilities.
Russia is apparently sending additional mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a private military organization, to the Donbas area to help the country's faltering army.
