SOCHI, October 12. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Defence Ministry to bring back troops to permanent bases after military exercises in southern Russia’s Rostov-on-Don region.

He gave this order at a meeting with Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu after an urgent meeting which the head of state held with permanent members of the Russian Security Council on Saturday.

“The minister reported to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief about the end to summertime training at firing ranges in the Southern Military District,” presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

“After the report Putin ordered to bring troops back to permanent bases,” he said, adding that these military force makes “a total of 17.6 thousand servicemen who passed drills at firing ranges in Rostov-on-Don region,” Peskov added.