0 members on board

25,000 people chose to be part of the Kyiv Independent community — thank you.

News Feed

UK Defense Ministry: Moscow re-deploys units from strategic regions in Russia to Ukraine

1 min read
UK Defense Ministry: Moscow re-deploys units from strategic regions in Russia to Ukraine
Russian military personnel arrive to participate in the Victory Day military parade held at Moscow's Red Square on May 9, 2023. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia's military drew up units from vital areas across Russia as far as 7,000 km from the front to face Ukraine's counteroffensive, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its latest report on July 6.

The report said that the defense around Bakhmut is mostly composed of elite airborne regiments that are normally stationed in western Russia as a rapid reaction force in case of tensions with NATO.

The intelligence noted that the 58th Combined Arms Army, which is otherwise tasked with securing the Caucasus region, is now defending positions in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The 5th Combined Arms Army and Naval Infantry that are holding the front around Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk Oblast are routinely based 7,000 km away near the Chinese border to balance out Beijing's military power in the area, the report added.

In February, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told BBC that 97% of the entire Russian army is deployed in Ukraine. On July 5, British Admiral Tony Radakin said that Russia lost half of its combat effectiveness in the invasion.

‘It’s a lottery’: How Ukraine’s assault brigade counterattacks near Bakhmut
Avatar
Martin Fornusek

Reporter

Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.

Read more
News Feed
Show More