Russia "Partial Troop Withdrawal"... First Signal of Tension Easing (Comprehensive)

On the 13th (local time), a satellite image captured Russian military equipment such as cannons and armored vehicles deployed at a railway yard in Yelnya, Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located about 300 km north of the border with Ukraine.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] On the 15th (local time), the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that some Russian military units deployed near the Ukraine border for training have begun to return. This is the first sign of tension easing amid escalating war crisis in Ukraine, with warnings from the United States and other Western countries.

Igor Konashenkov, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defense, said in a statement regarding the troop return, "As always, once the training is completed, the units will systematically return to their permanent bases."

Spokesperson Konashenkov explained, "Units from the Southern Military District and Western Military District that have completed their (training) missions have already started loading (military equipment) onto trains and vehicles, and will begin moving to their permanent barracks today," adding, "Some units will return marching in formation."

The Russian Southern Military District also announced that the training forces would withdraw from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and return to their bases.

Konashenkov said, "Currently, the Russian military continues large-scale tactical training of units and forces," adding, "All military districts, fleets, and airborne troops of the Russian military are participating in the training."

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that aside from the troops beginning partial withdrawal, other forces are conducting pre-planned training in their respective regions. Konashenkov said, "As part of the Union State readiness check between Russia and Belarus, the joint Russian-Belarusian training 'Union Resolve' is also being conducted in Belarus."

Russia and Belarus, which were part of the former Soviet Union, have pursued the establishment of a 'Union State' since the late 1990s, forming a close alliance beyond a simple partnership. He explained that units from the Russian Eastern Military District and airborne troops participating in this training are cooperating with Belarusian forces to practice repelling attacks on the Union State.

Konashenkov also mentioned that a live-fire exercise is scheduled for the 19th at the 'Obuz-Nesnovsky' training ground in Brest Oblast, southwestern Belarus, where Russian Marine brigades and Belarusian units will conduct defensive combat missions and unit movement drills supported by an aviation group. The joint Russian-Belarusian training, which began in earnest on the 10th, is set to continue until the 20th.

He explained that a series of naval exercises are underway in major oceanic areas and waters near Russian territory, involving surface ships, submarines, and naval aviation units. Additionally, training is ongoing at other training grounds within Russia, emphasizing that all military measures, including the training, are being carried out according to existing plans.

Russia has consistently denied Western allegations of an invasion of Ukraine.

The partial withdrawal of troops near Ukraine was announced a day before the invasion date reported by Western media citing U.S. intelligence. Some speculate that this may indicate that the diplomatic efforts by Western countries to prevent war have achieved some success.

Russia has deployed a total of 130,000 troops around the border area, including 30,000 troops participating in military exercises in Belarus, encircling the Ukraine border.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on Telegram that "February 15, 2022, will go down in history as the day Western war propaganda failed," and "They collapsed in disgrace without firing a single shot," according to BBC.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.