Russian Ministry of Defense "Withdrawal of Troops from Crimea Training Unit"... Withdrawal Video Released

Part of the Southern Military District Withdrawal Announced the Previous Day
Refuting Western Suspicions Raising Distrust Over Troop Withdrawal

Russian military tanks moving along the highway in the Crimean Peninsula on January 18. AP=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] On the 16th (local time), the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian military units that completed training in the Crimean Peninsula, annexed from Ukraine, are returning to their original garrisons.

On the same day, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated, "Units belonging to the Southern Military District that completed training in the Crimean Peninsula are returning to their original garrisons using railways," and released a video showing trains carrying military equipment.

The Ministry of Defense reported that soldiers have begun returning after loading tanks, armored vehicles, and self-propelled artillery onto trains, and that they will prepare for regular military education after returning.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Defense explained, "The Russian military continues large-scale tactical exercises involving units and forces," adding, "These exercises include all five Russian military districts, fleets, and airborne units."

The return of the training units from the Crimean Peninsula is part of the withdrawal operations of units belonging to the Russian Southern Military District.

On the same day, the Russian Southern Military District announced that the training personnel have completed their exercises in the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, and are withdrawing to their bases.

Igor Konashenkov, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defense, stated in a statement the previous day, "As always, once training is completed, units will systematically return to their permanent bases," adding, "Units of the Southern and Western Military Districts that have completed their missions have already begun loading (military equipment) onto trains and vehicles and will start moving to their original garrisons today."

The Russian Ministry of Defense's release of withdrawal footage is interpreted as a rebuttal to suspicions, mainly from Western camps, that the Russian military's withdrawal cannot be trusted despite the announcement made the previous day.

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