Russia's defense ministry published a video on Thursday showing troops and military equipment from its western military district's tank army returning to their permanent deployment bases after drills.

"The military echelon with the equipment of the units of the tank army of the Western Military District went to the point of permanent deployment after the completion of the planned exercises," Russian news agency RIA cited the ministry as saying in a statement.

Tanks and other tracked armored vehicles will be transported by rail "to a distance of about 1,000 kilometers," the defense ministry added.