U.S. intelligence already observes the withdrawal of Russian troops from Kyiv

According to CNN, citing senior US administration sources, Russian battalion tactical groups have already left some areas adjacent to the Ukrainian capital. Intelligence described this as a "major strategic shift."

The channel's interlocutors believe that Russia can cover the retreat with air and artillery bombardments of Kyiv. At the same time, US officials warn that Russian troops can always deploy again if combat conditions permit.

On March 29, after negotiations in Istanbul, the Russian side announced that it was drastically reducing military activity in the Kiev and Chernihiv areas.

This is not a short-term adjustment for regrouping, according to the US, but a longer-term move as Russia resigns itself to failing to push north. The official said one of the implications the US is worried about is keeping European allies united on economic pressure and military support as Washington expects some of them to pressure Ukraine to accept a peace deal to end hostilities.

The head of Ukraine's military intelligence says Russian President Vladimir Putin may seek to divide Ukraine into two parts, like North and South Korea.

Earlier, the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Kirill Budanov, Kirill Budanov, head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence of Ukraine, said that Russian operations around Kyiv had failed, and now the Russian army would not be able to overthrow the Ukrainian government. Putin's war is now focused on the south and east of the country, he said.