SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Russia said on Wednesday it has ended military drills in Moscow-annexed Crimea, according to AFP.
The Russian defense ministry said in a statement that soldiers were also returning to their garrisons, a day after it announced a first troop pullout from Ukraine’s borders.
“Units of the Southern Military District, having completed their participation in tactical exercises, are moving to their permanent deployment points,” AFP quoted Russian defense ministry as saying.
State television showed images of military units crossing a bridge linking the Russian-controlled peninsula to the mainland, AFP reported.
The defense ministry said tanks, infantry vehicles and artillery were leaving Crimea by rail.
It comes a day after Moscow said it was pulling back some of the troops deployed on its neighbour’s borders.
But Western leaders remain concerned that Russia could still launch an attack on Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that more than 150,000 Russian troops were still amassed near Ukraine’s borders after Moscow’s announcement of a partial pullback was met with skepticism.
*This story was updated at 10:44 p.m. EBL time
