Several Russian mechanized infantry units have returned to their bases in the regions of Dagestan and Chechnya after completing drills in Crimea, the Interfax news agency cited Russia’s defense ministry as saying on Friday.

Russia said this week it has started pulling back some troops from areas adjacent to Ukraine.

However, Kiev and the West have disputed that, claiming some units and equipment appeared to be replaced by others.

Separately, Interfax cited the ministry as saying that a train loaded with tanks of the Western military district has departed an undisclosed location to deliver them back to their base in the Nizhny Novgorod province.

For his part, Ukraine’s defense minister said Friday that the number of Russian forces around his former Soviet republic has reached 149,000.

“We are watching the divisions of the Russian troops, which number 129,000. And put together with naval and air components, this figure reaches 149,000,” Oleksiy Reznikov told parliament.

Source: Reuters and AFP