Russia announced on Wednesday the end of military maneuvers and the departure of some of its forces from the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, where the deployment of troops fueled fears of an invasion of Ukraine.
"The units of the southern military district having completed their tactical exercises on the bases of the Crimean peninsula are returning by rail to their home base," said the Russian Ministry of Defense, quoted by Russian agencies.
NATO has doubts
Russian television showed nighttime images of an endless train carrying armor crossing the bridge over the Kertsch Strait, built at great expense by Russia to connect Crimea to Russian territory.
On Tuesday, Moscow announced a "partial" withdrawal of its soldiers deployed for weeks on the borders of Ukraine, a sign of relaxation after two months of fears about an imminent invasion of its neighbor against a backdrop of Russian-Western crisis.
But Europeans and Americans are still waiting for proof of a major Russian military withdrawal, while saying they are cautiously optimistic.
Russia has not specified the extent or timing of this withdrawal.
More than 100,000 soldiers are deployed according to the Westerners on the Ukrainian borders with a quantity of heavy equipment, and NATO affirms that "Russia continues to strengthen its military presence" on the outskirts of Ukraine.
Important Russian-Belarusian maneuvers are also continuing until February 20 in Belarus, Ukraine's pro-Russian neighbor.
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Ukraine-Russia conflict: Moscow announces a withdrawal of part of the troops, the West awaits action
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