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First units of 2 Russian military districts back to bases after surprise drills

Defense Minister General Sergey Shoigu set March 7 as the final date for return of military staff to their bases

© ITAR-TASS/Andrei Kronberg

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MOSCOW, March 05. /ITAR-TASS/. First military units of Central and Western Military Districts involved in surprise military exercises came back to permanent deployment bases from the area of drills, the press service of the Defense Ministry told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.

“Some part of formations from the Central Military District of motor rifle brigades of the 2nd Army and vanguard units of a separate engineering brigade and a brigade of radiation, chemical and biological security from the Western Military District came back to their bases,” the press service said. “Aircraft involved in surprise drills returned to their permanent airfields, warships of the Baltic Fleet and formations of coast guard forces came to a naval base from the maritime range,” the press service added.

Defense Minister General Sergey Shoigu set March 7 as the final date for return of military staff to their bases.

“Trains are bringing tank units back to their bases. Several military units are on marches, military transport aviation has brought military units at a far distance back to their bases. Warships of the Northern Fleet are sailing to their anchorage site,” the press service reported.

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Surprise military exercises have been held since February 26. The order to bring military units back to their bases was given by Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin.

Around 150,000 servicemen of different types of troops and military command bodies, around 90 warplanes, more than 120 helicopters, around 880 tanks and more than 1,200 pieces of military hardware as well as around 80 warships and vessels were involved in surprise drills.

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