Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the end of exercises in the Southern and Western Military Districts and ordered the personnel to return to their deployment locations.
"I believe that the goals of the sudden inspection have been fully achieved. The troops have demonstrated their ability to ensure the reliable defense of the country. <...> The Russian Armed Forces react adequately to all changes in the situation near Russia's borders. Here, in Crimea, <...> the actions of anti-submarine defense of the sea-coast were practiced," he noted.
The Defense Minister ordered the General Staff, commanders of troops of military districts and airborne troops to "carry out a detailed analysis and summarize the results" of testing of troops.
Personnel of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District, 41st Army of the Central Military District, and the seventh, 76th and 98th divisions of the airborne troops will return to their permanent deployment points by May 1, the minister added. He stressed that the commanders must prevent accidents on the way.
In addition, Shoigu ordered to reward distinguished servicemen.
More than ten thousand people and 1,200 pieces of weapons and military equipment, including the Bal and Bastion coastal missile systems, Inokhodets unmanned aerial vehicles, and Raptor fast patrol boats, took part in the exercise in Crimea.
Shoigu announced the start of the army's combat-readiness inspections in all military districts in early April. At a meeting Thursday in Crimea, he stressed that NATO's military and reconnaissance activity in the region had increased significantly.
According to the Minister, the Russian military is closely monitoring the alliance's activities in the area of the upcoming Defender Europe exercises, and "one of the main coalition groups of alliance troops is deployed in the Black Sea region."
In recent weeks, Ukraine and Western countries have voiced concerns about Russia's increased "aggressive actions" in Crimea and on its western border. Commenting on the situation, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was moving troops within its territory, these actions do not threaten anyone and should not worry anyone.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from RIA Novosti