MOSCOW, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The Russian air force completed the withdrawal of its peacekeepers from South Sudan on Thursday, according to the Defense Ministry.

A military cargo aircraft landed at 10:20 a.m. Moscow time (0620 GMT) at the Migalovo airport in the city of Tver, bringing the last group of servicemen and some equipment from South Sudan, Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Drik told reporters.

Russian peacekeepers started withdrawing from the African country on Feb. 19, and 20 flights have been carried out. Over 100 Russian troops and four helicopters have been returned home, Drik said.

Russia sent 120 peacekeepers and four helicopters to Sudan in 2006. The troops' primary mission was to accompany UN observers and cargo and conduct rescue operations.

President Dmitry Medvedev in January ordered that the Russian troops be withdrawn from South Sudan after the UN mandate in the country ends.

The United Nations had a 10,400-strong peacekeeping force in Sudan, monitoring the implementation of the 2005 north-south Comprehensive Political Agreement.

Its mandate expired immediately after the official declaration of independence by South Sudan on July 9 in 2011.