The defence ministry said that large-scale drills continued but that some units were returning to their bases, BBC reported.

However, it is not clear how many troops have been decided to shift from the region.

Over 100,000 Russian troops have massed at Ukraine's border.

However, Russia never said it is planning to attack Ukraine.

A defence ministry statement, carried on Russian media, said it was withdrawing some of the troops conducting exercises in military districts bordering Ukraine, reports BBC.

"A number of combat training exercises, including drills, have been conducted as planned," Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov was quoted as saying by BBC.