Ukrainian offensive forces Russia to bolster troops in occupied south - intelligence

According to Ukrinform, the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said this in a Telegram post, with reference to an interview that Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, gave to The Guardian.

"Russia is moving large numbers of troops to the occupied Crimea. In the future, they are to be used in the south of our country for military operations against the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Skibitskyi said.

According to him, two weeks ago, Russia withdrew tactical groups of airborne troops from the Donetsk region and moved them to occupied Kherson. Russia is also moving troops from its eastern military district, which was being used to attack Sloviansk.

If Russia won the battles in southern and eastern Ukraine, it would pursue new offensives to capture more Ukrainian territory using units it was currently forming in Russia, Skibitskyi said.

He also noted that aside from more weapons, Ukraine needed help training troops abroad.

Photo: AA