Russia, Ukraine Kyiv 'Withdrawal Rumors'... Occupied Airport 'Empty'

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] As Russian forces withdraw from Antonov Airport on the outskirts of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, which they had occupied until now, rumors of a 'Kyiv withdrawal' are spreading. This comes three days after Russia announced it would reduce military operations in northern Ukraine.

According to reports from The New York Times (NYT) and others on the 1st (local time), a U.S. Department of Defense official stated that they believe Russian forces left on the 31st of last month, which was confirmed by satellite images taken that day by the U.S. private satellite company Maxar Technologies.

Russian forces occupied Antonov Airport on the first day of the invasion, February 24, and have since established positions and remained stationed there. Fierce battles have continued between Russian forces attempting to advance into Kyiv and Ukrainian forces trying to stop them.

Recently, Ukrainian forces claimed to have taken control of about ten cities around Kyiv, where the fiercest battles since the start of the war occurred.

However, military experts analyzed that the Russian forces withdrawing from nearby areas, who had been attempting to besiege Kyiv, does not necessarily mean a reduction in the overall conduct of the war.

Experts predict that if Russian forces capture Izium, an important city southeast of Kharkiv where attacks have been ongoing for weeks, the eastern Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk) forces will be connected, isolating the northeastern Ukrainian forces.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.