Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has announced that troops deployed in the west and south of the country in recent days will soon begin returning to base, saying they have now passed tests of their combat readiness.
The chief of the country’s military revealed on Thursday that a number of units of the regular army and airborne divisions had been transferred to the area, near the shared border with Ukraine, as part of surprise military exercises.
The buildup had caused alarm in Kiev, and been cited by Western nations as a potential precursor to an invasion, which the Kremlin repeatedly denied.
The goals of the sudden inspection have been fully achieved. The troops demonstrated their ability to ensure reliable defense of the country.
As a result, Shoigu has now ordered commanders to plan and begin the return of troops to their places of regular deployment, beginning from April 23, 2021.
By the end of the month, the minister said, “the personnel of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District, the 41st Army of the Central Military District, the 7th, 76th Air Assault and 98th Airborne Divisions of the Airborne Forces” will return to their normal bases.
However, he warned that the Russian army would “react and respond adequately to all NATO deployment changes in the situation near Russian borders.
Earlier this month, Shoigu paid a visit to troops stationed near the border with Ukraine and said they were showing “full readiness and ability to fulfill the tasks of ensuring the country’s military security.
Western media reported that Washington was mulling expanding its shipments of weaponry to Ukraine, including handing over missiles and anti-air equipment. The country has previously requested support from NATO.
Fighting between Kiev’s forces and soldiers loyal to two Donbass republics in the east has escalated in recent weeks, and Moscow has warned it could intervene to prevent a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe.
RT. com / ABC Flash Point Military News 2021.
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Now will NATO also move the hostile troops away from the Russian borders?