Yesterday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that the Russian military exercises in and around Crimea and the waters of the Black Sea had achieved their objectives, and thus he ordered their conclusion. The withdrawal decision is being spun by the Western news media as a climb-down by Russia. Bloomberg News called it “a step that could calm strains with the West that have surged in recent weeks.” Of course, it had followed a drumbeat of war propaganda blaming Russia for the buildup in tensions. “Top U.S. military commanders ‘seriously worried’ over new threats of nuclear weapons from adversaries,” Fox News reported on April 21. The news media also retailed claims of upwards of 150,000 Russian troops deployed, but the available evidence suggests far fewer than that.
“I believe that the goals of the surprise inspection have been fully achieved. The troops demonstrated the ability to provide a reliable defense of the country,” Shoigu said during an inspection visit to Crimea, reported the Russian Defense Ministry on April 22. “In this regard, I have decided to complete the check activities in the Southern and Western Military Districts, “ he said at a meeting in Crimea to discuss the exercise.
The NATO deployment around Russia was also discussed. “The military activity of the NATO bloc is significantly increasing in this region. Reconnaissance activities are intensifying, the intensity and scale of operational training activities are increasing,” Shoigu said. “We are closely monitoring the transfer of alliance troops to the area of the upcoming Defender Europe 2021 exercise. Coordination centers have been established in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria to ensure the meeting of NATO troops and cargo.”
Shoigu also ordered readiness for an immediate response, in case of an unfavorable development of the situation in the areas of the NATO exercise Defender Europe 2021. “Continue monitoring the situation in the areas of the Defender Europe exercise. To be ready for an immediate response in case of its unfavorable development in the areas of the Defender Europe exercise,” he said.
Both the Defense Ministry and Russian media outlets published video today of troops and equipment loading up and being transported back to home bases.