After weeks of stoking fears of a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia on April 22 announced the withdrawal of military forces from areas bordering Ukraine.
According to Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, units of the country’s Southern and Western military districts will return to their home bases starting from April 23.
The official said that Russia has successfully completed a campaign to inspect the combat readiness of its military.
“The armed forces have demonstrated their ability to ensure the country’s capable defense,” Shoigu said during his visit to Russian-occupied Crimea. “And so, I have passed a decision to scrap all checkups in Southern and Western military districts.”
At the same time, Shoigu noted that the Russian military was still ready to “react appropriately to any changes in the situation near Russian borders.”
By various estimates, Russia has concentrated up to nearly 100,000 troops near eastern Ukraine and in Crimea since late March, raising fears of a possible large-scale invasion. The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Ukraine of planning on an offensive in Donbas and threatened an intervention.
Ukraine vehemently denied any military action plans for the Russian-occupied region, saying it was committed to finding a peaceful settlement and avoiding civilian deaths.
The withdrawal comes one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a state of the nation address. Contrary to expectations, Putin didn’t say anything about his intentions towards Ukraine, only warning the West against crossing vague “red lines.”
A day before Putin’s speech, President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his own address to the nation, called on all Ukrainians to unite against the possible invasion threat and offered to meet Putin in Donbas.
