Russia redirects troops from occupied Ukrainian territories to Kursk region, US official

Russia is moving some of its troops from occupied territories in Ukraine toward the Kursk region, according to John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House National Security Council.

“We’ve observed that certain Russian units have been redirected to the Kursk region. While I can’t provide specifics on the number of troops or their exact intentions, it’s clear that some units are being diverted in that direction,” Kirby said on Thursday.

He added the Ukrainian military’s operations in the Kursk region had presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a strategic challenge.

“Putin and the Russians have had to adapt. We see indications that they are attempting to consolidate forces in and around Kursk due to Ukrainian activities in the area. This requires reallocating assets from one location to another, a decision that poses significant challenges,” Kirby added.