DHAKA: Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered troops that took part in military exercises this week to return to base.

Russian news agencies quoted the Kremlin spokesman as saying on Tuesday, reports The Jerusalem Post.

Dmitry Peskov said the military exercises, which Moscow denied were linked to events in Ukraine, had been a success.

The exercises took place across western Russia, an area which borders Ukraine.

BDST: 1534 HRS, MAR 04, 2014