Russia on Wednesday said military drills in The Crimea annexed to Moscow had come to an end and soldiers returned to their garrisons a day later announced a first withdrawal of troops from Ukrainian borders.
“Units of the Southern Military Region, having completed their participation in tactical exercises, are moving to their permanent deployment points”, Moscow defense the ministry said in A declaration.
State television showed footage of military units crossing a bridge connecting the Russian-controlled peninsula to the mainland.
The statement said tanks, infantry vehicles and the artillery left the Crimea by rail.
the announcement comes a day after Moscow announced it was firing back some of deployed troops on the borders of son neighbor.
But Western leaders remain concerned that Russia could still launch a attack on Ukraine, with US President Joe Biden warning on Tuesday that one attack by Moscow remained “completely possible”.
Biden said that despite Russian claims earlier in the day, Washington and its allies still had to verify the withdrawal of any of dozens of thousands of the troops there says Moscow has now rallied along the Ukrainian border.
