March 23 (UPI) -- The Russian army ended war exercises on its western border, it announced on Monday, as a preventative measure against the COVID-19 virus.
The war games were to be a response to a massive exercise by NATO troops in March, Europe-Defender 20, that was to involve over 20,000 U.S. troops and personnel from 10 other countries but was severely reduced in scope after the outbreak. The NATO exercise was criticized by the Kremlin, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in February that Russia would respond with a reciprocal show of force.