More than 10,000 Russian soldiers are returning to their permanent bases after a month of exercises near Ukraine, the Interfax news agency reported today, citing the Russian military.

Interfax reported that the drills took place in several areas near Ukraine, including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, as well as in the southern Russian regions of Rostov and Kuban.

Russia‘s deployment of tens of thousands of troops near Ukraine had fuelled fears in Kiev and Western capitals that Moscow was planning an attack.

The situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border

Russia denies any such plans, arguing that it needs commitments from the West – including a pledge from NATO not to expand the alliance eastwards towards the Russian border – because its own security is threatened by Ukraine‘s strengthening relations with the Western alliance.

Moscow also maintains that it can deploy its troopson its territory as it sees fit.

Estimates of the number of Russian soldiers who have recently moved to Ukraine range from 60,000 to 90,000, with a US intelligence document indicating that the number could be as high as 175,000.