It was previously reported that troops from almost all military districts of Russia participated in the exercises.

The return of Russian forces to their bases comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region over repeated accusations made by Western authorities and media about Russia’s likely invasion of Ukraine.

Russian authorities have repeatedly denied such allegations and have assured that Russia has no intention of attacking Ukraine and, on the contrary, have pointed out that these speculations could provoke the escalation of the internal conflict in that country.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday via telephone that Washington’s propaganda campaign about an aggression against Ukraine on Russia’s part is pursuing provocative goals.

Speeches by Western politicians, diplomats and the media about alleged Russian plans against Kiev have escalated over the past two months, actions that have been denounced by Moscow.

The Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, described this strategy as an empty and unfounded increase in tension and emphasized that Russia does not represent a threat to anyone, and warned about the possibility that provocations will take place as a means to prove said Russian attack.

pgh/llp/jha/mml