Ukraine-Russia tensions: Russia pulls some troops back from border

Author: Editors Desk Source: BBC News:

February 15, 2022 at 10:30

ANADOLU AGENCY | A Russian military build-up around Ukraine has sparked alarm

Russia says it is pulling back some of its troops from near Ukraine after a build-up raised fears of an invasion.

The defence ministry said that large-scale drills continued but that some units were returning to their bases.

There has been no independent confirmation of the withdrawal and international powers have reacted cautiously to the announcement.

More than 100,000 Russian troops have massed at Ukraine's border. Russia has always denied it is planning an attack.

Russia has deep cultural and historic ties with Ukraine, and has been seeking guarantees it will not join the Nato military alliance, something the bloc has refused to promise.

Troops began gathering in large numbers last November, bringing increasingly dire warnings about Russia's intentions. In recent days the US warned an invasion could be imminent, and moved its embassy out of the capital Kyiv.

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