Fears that Russia is plotting to invade the Baltic states have also reportedly increased after Ukraine’s Commander in Chief Viktor Muzhenko claimed the Russian President lied about how many soldiers were there in the first place.
The Zapad war games, held by troops from Russia and Belarus on territory in both countries in September, have been a source of concern for neighbouring Ukraine and NATO member states on Europe’s eastern flank.
Russia has claimed the purpose of the exercise was to rehearse a purely defensive scenario.
The Kremlin also claimed that the scale of the war games was in line with international rules and that allegations it was a springboard to invade Poland, Lithuania or Ukraine were false.
However, Mr Muzhenko has claimed war games were of an offensive nature.
Tensions between Kiev and Moscow are high after Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and the outbreak of a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 10,000 people.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday issued a stern warning to Russia, promising a fierce response in the event of an attack on UK’s NATO allies in Eastern Europe.
During a speech broadcast on Sky News from the Tapa military base in Estonia, she said: “Russia’s continued aggression represents a growing danger to our friends here in Estonia as well as in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Our response must be clear and unequivocal.
“That is why this mission that you are carrying out is so important. By stepping up NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, you are showing that we are equipped to respond to any threat we face, you are showing that we are ready to do so.”
The Prime Minister said Britain would continue to stand by its European allies even after Brexit and was ready to intervene in the case of an attack.
She continued: “While we are leaving the European Union, as I have said many times, we are not leaving Europe so the United Kingdom is unconditionally committed to maintaining Europe’s security.”
Russia ranks third in the world in terms of military spending, ploughing a massive roughly £51.5billion into defence annually.
By comparison, the UK spends £35billion on defence.