Russia has repositioned a “small number” of its forces near Kyiv but is not withdrawing and may be preparing to conduct a “major offensive” elsewhere in Ukraine, the Pentagon said on March 29.
“We’re seeing a small number now that appears to be moving away from Kyiv, this on the same day that the Russians say they’re withdrawing,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
Kirby was speaking just hours after Russian deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin said that Moscow would scale down fighting around Kyiv and the northern city of Chernigiv after progress was made in peace talks held in Istanbul.
“What I can tell you is that the vast majority of the assembled force that we saw against Kyiv is still there,” Kirby said. “We’ve only seen a small number begin to move away from Kyiv, mostly to the north.
“Russia has failed in its objective of capturing Kyiv,” the Pentagon spokesman said, but “it does not mean that the threat to Kyiv is over”. He added that there had been “increased offensive activity” by Russian forces in the breakaway Donbas region.
