In what could further ease geopolitical tensions, Russia on Wednesday announced that it was concluding Crimea military drills. Moscow said troops have already started leaving.
The military drills concluded in Moscow-annexed Crimea a day after Russia said that it was pulling back some troops from the borders of Ukraine.
“Units of the Southern Military District, having completed their participation in tactical exercises, are moving to their permanent deployment points,” the Russian Defence Ministry stated in a statement.
The statement added that tanks, infantry vehicles and artillery were being moved out by rail.
On state television, images were beamed of military units crossing a bridge that connects Crimea to the Russian mainland.
Tuesday’s announcement of pullback of some troops had led to positive sentiment on the Russian financial markets. Also yesterday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin amid the possible threat of invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Interfax reported that as per the district command, some of the troops were going back to bases in the southern regions of Dagestan and North Ossetia.
It may be noted here that Russia had annexed Crimea in 2014.
Meanwhile, western leaders continue to remain skeptical and concerned about the possibility of Russia invading Ukraine, with US President Joe Biden warning yesterday that an attack by Moscow continues to remain “very much a possibility”.
Biden said while Russia may have made claims to the contrary, Washington and its allies believe a verification of the troop withdrawal was necessary as Russia had amassed tens of thousands of troops along Ukraine’s border.
