"The withdrawal process will occur with close coordination between Russian military authorities and NATO," NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) spokesman Dale MacEachern said.

It will occur "sooner rather than later" and will not affect the SFOR mission, he added.

Russia has 300 troops serving with the 12,000-strong SFOR force that has been deployed in Bosnia to provide security following the country's 1992-95 war.

SPACE.WIRE