According to the UK, Russian troops were forced to return to Belarus following heavy losses in Ukraine.

According to the Ministry of Defence's latest intelligence update, Russian units returned to their neighbor and ally to replenish supplies and reorganize following significant equipment and personnel losses in Ukraine.

"This activity adds to Russia's already-strained logistics and demonstrates Russia's difficulties reorganizing its units in forward areas within Ukraine," the MoD stated in its update.

According to the Ministry of Defense, intelligence indicates that the besieged country may face additional heavy artillery and shelling attacks as Russia regroups and reorganizes its ground offensive.

"Russia will almost certainly continue to compensate for its diminished ground maneuverability through massive artillery and missile strikes," the most recent intelligence update stated.

Russia pledged to scale back military operations around Kyiv and Chernihiv in northern Ukraine to "increase mutual trust." Moscow conceded during Tuesday's first day of talks in Istanbul to end Russia's month-long war against Ukraine.

Although met with skepticism and caution, it is the Kremlin's first meaningful concession since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on 24 February.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab says the west should not believe what Mr. Putin says. In contrast, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says indications of troop withdrawals "do not drown out the ruptures of Russian shells."

"The door to diplomacy will always remain open, but I believe you cannot trust what comes out of Putin's war machine's mouth," Mr. Raab told Sky News.

The talks took place in an Istanbul palace more than a month after the deadliest attack on a European nation since World War II, which killed or injured thousands, forced nearly 4 million people to flee to other countries, and drew sanctions that have wreaked havoc on Russia's economy.

"Ultimately, their actions must be judged, and they must withdraw from Ukraine, not simply reposition," Mr. Raab told Times Radio.

"However, I believe we are extremely skeptical of anything emanating from Moscow."

Additionally, the MoD's intelligence update warned that Russia's stated emphasis on an offensive in Donetsk and Luhansk is likely a tacit admission that the country is struggling to sustain more than one significant axis of advance.