Russia To Pull 17,000 Troops From Near Ukrainian Border

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks in Moscow. 

President Vladmir Putin has directed 17,600 Russian troops stationed near the country’s 

border with Ukraine to leave the area and return to base, CNN reports.

According to the directive which was announced on the state-run RIA Novosti news agency, 

the Russian troops have concluded training in the country’s southern Rostov region.

Although many doubt if any such exercise were taking place, saying the military presence 

near the border was a threat to invade eastern Ukraine.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has not confirmed the said withdrawal in the region 

where fighting have been going on since April 2014 between Ukrainian forces 

and pro-Russia secessionists. 

Ukraine and Russia have been under a shaky cease-fire since last month, 

when government officials from the two countries as well as rebel leaders from eastern Ukraine hashed 

out a deal in Belarus, but the blood shed could not be stopped. 

10 civilians are said to have been killed a donetsk city school during bomb attack and more 2,500 

are said to have also lost their lives.