Russia announces withdrawal from Ukraine border

For more than a month, the West has reproached Russia for having gathered numerous military personnel near the Ukrainian border, with a view to a possible military attack on Kiev.

More than 10,000 Russian servicemen have returned to their bases after a month of tense military movements in southern Russia near the Ukrainian border, the focal point of the conflict between the two nations, Moscow announced on Saturday.

Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defense minister, told a press conference that the "battle preparation" movements took place in some military terrain near Ukraine: in the Russian districts of Volgograd, Rostov, Krasnodar and in the annexed land area from Crimea.

In their statements, the Russian military does not determine precisely which bases the soldiers have returned to.

In this way, Sergei Shoigú, defense minister pointed out that the state seeks to guarantee security during the holidays.

"In order to guarantee a high state of alert during the festivities at the military sites of the southern military district, guard units, reinforcements and forces will be assigned to deal with possible emergency situations," he said.

For more than a month, the West has been blaming Russia for concentrating large numbers of military personnel near the Ukrainian border, with its sights set on a possible military conflict against Kiev, something Moscow denies.