Before the pullback announced on April 22, Russia flexed its military muscle by conducting military drills near Ukraine and in occupied Crimea, greatly worsening tensions with Ukraine and its Western allies.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russia’s 58th and 41st Combined Arms Armies, and the 76th and 98th Airborne Divisions would go back to their home bases after a successful inspection of their combat readiness. Shoigu added that the forces would be ready to respond to any changes along the border.
While the announcement eased some tension, it’s not yet clear how many troops and pieces of hardware Russia really intends to pull back.
