Feint or defeat: What Russian repositioning from Kyiv really means

In boxing, a feint is defined as an illusory movement when a boxer pretends to do something, but eventually does something else.

The partial repositioning of Russian ground forces from the area north and northwest of Kyiv has been broadly interpreted as a natural result of the unprecedented resistance and agility of Ukrainian forces.

Recent inveterate reports of Ukrainian counterattacks have only added to the innate temptation to give round one of the Russian invasion, to Ukraine. However, there is a counter-narrative that perceives a strategic accomplishment for Vladimir Putin in the first five weeks of the war.

In boxing, a feint is defined as an illusory movement when a boxer pretends to do something, but eventually does something else. The idea of a feint is to evade or rather divert the defences of the opponent so that the boxer is left with much less resistance.

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In military terms, according to the US Army Intelligence Center and School, "Feints are offensive in nature and require engagement with the enemy in order to give the appearance of a realistic main attack."