The Russian Defense Ministry said more than 10,000 troops would return to their permanent bases in the Southern Military District after more than a month of training in the region, including in areas near the Ukrainian border.
The exercises took place throughout the district, including in the Crimea and Rostov regions that border Ukraine, according to a statement posted Saturday on the ministry’s website.
Ukraine estimates 122,000 Russian troops are within 200 kilometers (124 miles) of their shared border, up from about 100,000 just weeks ago, as Western nations and officials in Kyiv say Russia continues to amass forces ahead of a potential attack.
A U.S. official, briefing reporters Thursday on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. also sees signs of a stepped up disinformation campaign from Russia, seeking to pin tensions on Kyiv.
