The UK said Russia is withdrawing its forces after “heavy losses”, proving its “inability to capture major Ukrainian cities”.

Withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian region Britain’s Ministry of Defense said on Thursday that their encirclement at the start of the war demonstrated their “unable to take key Ukrainian cities”.

at Intelligence update“Ukrainian forces continue their counter-offensive north of Kharkiv, recapturing several towns and villages towards the Russian border,” the ministry said.

“Despite Russia’s success in encircling Kharkiv in the early stages of the conflict, it was reported that it withdrew units from the region to reorganize and replenish its forces after heavy losses,” the ministry added.

A man drives amid destroyed Russian combat vehicles in the village of Velhivka near Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 11.
(Reuters/Ricardo Moraes)

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Kharkiv, located in northeastern Ukraine, is the second largest city in the country with an estimated population of 1.5 million.

Destroyed houses in the village of Velhivka near Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 11.

“The withdrawal of Russian forces from the Kharkiv region is a tacit acknowledgment of Russia’s inability to control the main Ukrainian cities as they expected limited resistance from the population,” she added.

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A damaged Russian tank is seen on a highway to Kyiv, Ukraine.
(AFP/Efrem Lukatsky)

The ministry says that the withdrawn forces “will most likely be deployed on the eastern bank of the Siverskyi Donets, forming a buffer force to protect the western flank of the concentration of the main force of Russia and the main supply routes of operations in the vicinity of Izyum.”

The Russian invasion of Ukraine lasted 78 days.