Russia moves troops from Kaliningrad to Kursk, Kyiv in 'moral uplift' – Lithuanian defmin

VILNIUS – In response to Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region, Russia is relocating some of its troops from Kaliningrad to the area, Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said on Wednesday. 

Kasciunas described Ukrainian forces' actions in the Kursk region as a "moral uplift."

"They (Russia) need more resources and are trying to pull them from other areas. It's all very simple and natural," he told BNS.

The minister believes the attack had an important symbolic meaning for the fighting nation.

"First of all, it's a moral uplift; obviously it is very important. It was very necessary," he said. 

Ukrainian forces entered the Kursk region on August 6 and have taken dozens of settlements in the biggest attack by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II.

An AFP analysis of data provided by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) indicated that Ukrainian troops had advanced over an area of at least 800 square kilometers of Russian territory as of Monday.