More than 10,000 Russian troops that had spent the last months in drills along the Ukraine border, raising concerns among Western allies that Vladimir Putin intended to invade, are heading home, Reuters reports based off an account from Interfax News Service.
The troops, however, represent a portion of the tens of thousands of Russians who has amassed along the Ukraine border for military exercises; US intelligence stated that at various time this year, Russia has had between 60,000 and 175,000 troops in the region. The withdrawal is still a sign that Putin has heeded the warnings issued by President Joe Biden and European leaders.
“A stage of combat coordination of divisions, combat crews, squads at motorized units… has been completed. More than 10,000 military servicemen… will march to their permanent deployment from the territory of the combined arms’ area of drills,” Interfax quoted the army as saying.