Russia pulls 5,000 servicemen from Ukraine to Kursk

Russia has withdrawn several understrength brigades from Ukraine, totaling up to 5,000 servicemen as of midweek.

One of these brigades was pulled from the Donetsk region, the focal point of Russia's ongoing offensives, while others were redeployed from less critical areas, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Russia may need to pull additional troops out of Ukraine if it aims to retake lost territory, a task that would require a force significantly larger than the Ukrainian defenders, likely exceeding 20,000 well-trained personnel. In Moscow, President Putin has held televised meetings with top defence and security officials, ordering the expulsion of Ukrainian forces from Russian territory.

Meanwhile, satellite imagery reveals that Russia is rapidly constructing anti-tank ditches and other fortifications over 30 miles from the border. Western military estimates indicate that Ukraine has deployed as many as 6,000 soldiers to the Kursk region, with up to 4,000 more in support roles in the Sumy region.

To avoid weakening its front lines, Ukraine has drawn a substantial portion of these troops from a reserve force that had been built up with Western support for operations planned later this year and in 2025.

Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said that over 1,700 people have been recently evacuated from the border districts of Russia's Kursk Region.

“The borderland residents were evacuated in four municipal districts of the region. More than 1,700 people departed to safe areas independently,” the ministry said.

About 10,000 people, including 3,000 children, are in 174 temporary accommodation centres in 24 regions of Russia.

Ukraine launched its surprise offensive on August 6 with a major cross-border raid into Kursk. Russia appears to be struggling to contain the incursion and has announced emergency measures and evacuated tens of thousands of people.