By MOSCOW, Russia – In a surprising and desperate maneuver, Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun pulling Russian troops out of Ukraine to reinforce defenses within Russia as Ukrainian forces continue to advance aggressively into Russian territory.
This strategic retreat is seen by many analysts as a humiliating setback for Moscow, indicating the strain on Russian resources as the conflict with Ukraine intensifies.
Ukraine’s rapid incursion into Russian territory, which began just a week ago, has already resulted in significant territorial gains.
Ukrainian forces have reportedly seized control of dozens of villages and vast expanses of land—amounting to as much as 400,000 square miles, according to estimates from Kyiv.
This sudden and bold offensive has led to widespread panic and mass evacuations in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, with over 120,000 Russian residents forced to flee their homes.
In response to these developments, Russian military units previously stationed in southern Ukraine have been ordered to return to Russian territory to bolster defenses, according to a Ukrainian army spokesperson.
Dmytro Lykhovyi, speaking to Politico, revealed, “Russia has relocated some of its units from both Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine’s south.” These regions were heavily contested and attacked by Russian forces after the initial invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
While the exact number of troops being pulled back to the border remains unclear, Lykhovyi acknowledged that the figure was “relatively small.”
However, this move could be a significant indicator of Russia’s strained military situation as it attempts to respond to Ukraine’s aggressive strategy.
In a related development, one of Russia’s strike UAV drones was reportedly redeployed to the Kursk region, after previously operating in eastern Ukraine.
This shift in military assets was noted by Russian defense policy researcher Leo Pestic on X, further signaling Russia’s increasing focus on defending its own territory.
Lykhovyi also cautioned that this retreat could be part of a larger tactical deception by Russia. “It could be a ‘smokescreen’ tactic, with the Kremlin intending to launch surprise attacks on Kherson despite pulling some troops back,” he suggested, highlighting the complex and fluid nature of the ongoing conflict.
As the situation continues to develop, it remains to be seen how effective Russia’s defensive strategy will be in the face of Ukraine’s bold and unexpected advances into Russian soil.
The conflict, which has already seen significant shifts in momentum, now appears to be entering a critical phase with both sides adapting their strategies in response to rapidly changing circumstances.
