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Min. Shoygu: Russia withdraws troops from areas bordering Ukraine

MOSCOW, April 22 (KUNA) -- Sergey Shoygu, Russia's Defense Minister, said on Thursday that his country withdrew its troops from areas bordering Ukraine.
A statement by the Defense Ministry indicated that Shoygu's announcement came during his visit to Crimea where the Russian military is conducting drills.
"I believe the goals of the surprise check have been fully achieved. The troops demonstrated the ability to provide reliable defense of the country. In this regard, I've decided to complete the inspection activities in the Southern and Western military districts," Shoygu said.
The minister indicated that the drills had reached its goals, affirming that troops will return to their respective bases by Friday.
Shoygu indicated that the Russian military leadership was monitoring NATO and western allies' movements in preparation for Defender-Europe 21 in Greek ports.
The Ukraine and western nations expressed worries over the Russian troops presence east of the Ukraine, which caused tension in the region. (end) as.gta