MOSCOW. Feb 18 (Interfax) - Motorized rifle units have arrived at their permanent bases in Dagestan and Chechnya upon completion of a military exercise in Crimea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
"The first motorized rifle units of the [Russian] Southern Military District stationed in the Chechen Republic and the Republic of Dagestan have returned to their permanent deployment sites after participating in a routine tactical exercise in the territory of the Republic of Crimea," the Defense Ministry said.
The units' personnel and military hardware were transported to their home bases by rail, covering a distance of 1,500 kilometers, it said.
The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday released video footage that shows the trains with military personnel and hardware arriving in Dagestan and Chechnya, where welcome-home ceremonies were held for them with military bands playing.