Russia transfers troops, equipment from Belgorod region military base to Ukraine

This is reported by the journalists of Schemes. 

Military experts assume that Russian soldiers and equipment were transferred to the occupied territory of Luhansk region. The relocation is connected, in particular, with a series of explosions in Valuyki, Belgorod region.

"On October 1, Planet Labs recorded that military equipment, including helicopters, as well as tents housing personnel, disappeared from the territory of the military base in Valuyki, Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine's Kharkiv, Sumy, and Luhansk regions. Compared with satellite images from September 6, which are also at the disposal of Schemes, numerous tents, helicopters, and ground military equipment could still be seen at this military base," the journalists reported.

Satellite images of the military base in Valuyki for September 6 and October 1

A military expert, reserve colonel with Ukraine's Armed Forces Roman Svitan, said that part of the personnel and equipment was transferred to Svatove in connection with the explosions on September 16 and 28.

"This happened after the explosions in the Valuyki area. The Russian forces suffered losses, and apparently a decision was made to withdraw. According to my information, part of the military and equipment "went" deeper into Russia, and most of it - in the direction of the city of Svatove, Luhansk region. Previously, from Valuyki, they went to Kupiansk, Kharkiv region: there is a direct road, a railway, and a river. By road, the Russian military entered Kupiansk, and from there some went to Izyum, some went to Lyman, some went to Rubizhne in the direction of Severodonetsk, and the base itself remained in Valuyki as a distribution center. Now it has lost its meaning," Svitan said. 

Another military analyst, Mykhailo Zhyrokhov, also confirmed the possibility of the Russian forces defecting to the Luhansk region.

"Now the Russians are rebuilding the line of defense along the Svatove-Kreminna road in the Oskil direction. They now need forces, and it may be that from Valuyki, because this very city during the full-scale war was the last point before being sent to the front in this region. For the most part, through Valuyki, the military was transferred to the Kharkiv region, but now they can be used in Luhansk," he said.