Pentagon: Russians Retreating from Around Kyiv, Refitting in Belarus

Roughly two-thirds of Russian forces used to target Ukraine's capital Kyiv until recently are now refitting in Belarus, a senior defense official said on Monday, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"They are largely consolidating themselves in Belarus prior to some level of redeployment back into Ukraine," the official speaking on background said.

That means, however, that about a third of the forces Putin used to invade his neighbor are still near Kyiv.

The official couldn't predict when or if the nearby group of remaining Russian units will retreat to join the other of their forces already consolidated in Belarus.

"Our best assessment ... is that they will be applied in the eastern part of the country in the Donbas region." 

Russia launched more than 125 battalion tactical groups into Ukraine on Feb. 24. The majority of those units are still in Ukraine, the Pentagon believes.

While the Russian retreat from Kyiv is heartening, no one is calling this a Ukrainian victory; though, Putin's goal to overthrow Ukraine's elected government has been thwarted. But that does not mean Kyiv is out of danger, the official explained.

"The capital can still be hit by air attacks and long-range fires... Nobody is taking this for granted," the official said.

Washington, in its turn, is supplying Ukraine with defensive weapons as rapidly as possible.

There is a new $300 million pot of money that can be used to get these needed capabilities into Ukraine, a process that is being rushed.

Stinger and Javelin missiles, along with unmanned aerial systems and other defensive materiel are being rushed into Ukraine, another Pentagon official added.

"We're going to continue to support Ukraine's ability to defend itself. We're going to do that as much as we can and as fast as we can," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby confirmed during a news conference.

The U.S. also continues to work with its allies and partners to identify and provide to the Ukrainians additional capabilities and will utilize all available tools to support Ukraine's armed forces as they fight bravely for the defense of their country, Kirby said.  

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.