Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has told troops to return to their bases after military exercises near the border with Ukraine.

Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has told troops to return to their bases after military exercises near the border with Ukraine.

The troops, which were involved in military exercises in the Rostov, Belgorod and Bryansk Regions, were ordered to withdraw, the Russian Defense Ministry said, as cited by RIA Novosti.

The ministry added that military unites have fulfilled tests in the field, which had been planned for winter training period.

The ministerial announcement comes a day after President Vladimir Putin issued a pullout order.

The move is being described as a bid to de-escalate tensions between Russia and the West since the Cold-War era, as well as avoid further Western sanctions.
Experts say Putin’s order shows he has no immediate intention of sending the Russian army into volatile eastern Ukraine.

The Ministry said it would take time for troops to load their equipment on trucks and head to railway stations.

It didn’t say, however, how many troops were being pulled out from the three regions or how long it would take.