RUSSIA DRILLS IN CRIMEA AMID UKRAINE STRAIN

Moscow, April 22: Russia's defence minister on Thursday ordered troops back to their permanent bases following massive drills in Crimea that involved dozens of navy ships, hundreds of warplanes and thousands of troops in a show of force amid tensions with Ukraine.

After watching the drills, Russian Defence Minister Shoigu declared the manoeuvres over and ordered the military to pull the troops taking part in manoeuvres in Crimea and western Russia back to their permanent bases. “I consider the goals of the snap check of readiness fulfilled,” Shoigu said.

“The troops have shown their defence capability and I decided to complete the drills in the South and Western military districts.” Shoigu said the troops should return to their bases by May 1, but he also ordered to keep the heavy weapons deployed to western Russia as part of the drills for another massive military exercise later this year.