Ο Russian army began its withdrawal from the border zones of Ukraine, where Russian forces had advanced to forward positions in recent weeks, causing high international tension and a reaction from Western powers.
«At this moment, our units and military formations are heading toward train stations and airports, loading landing ships, railcars, and transport aircraft,» the Russian Ministry of Defense announced, as reported by RIA Novosti.
The withdrawal of Russian forces began from the Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula that was annexed by Russia in 2014, following a military exercise in the region involving 10,000 soldiers.
On April 23, the forces of the Southern Military District and the airborne forces that participated in the exercises began returning to their permanent bases, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
While attending the military exercises in Crimea yesterday, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the withdrawal, from April 23 through May 1, of tens of thousands of troops who had been deployed in Crimea andwestern Russia for «surprise exercises to verify the readiness of Russian forces.».
