Russia’s Defence Ministry has said today that its Black Sea Fleet forces were tracking the French navy’s Auvergne frigate after the vessel entered the Black Sea, the Interfax news agency reported. This comes as tensions between Russia and the West are at a high as Russia builds up its military forces at the border with Ukraine.
US intelligence sources are warning that the Kremlin is preparing for a multi-front offensive, as soon as early next year, involving some 175,000 troops.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov echoed this, saying: “The most likely time to reach readiness for escalation will be the end of January.”
CIA Director William Burns added that Mr Putin “is putting the Russian military, the Russian security services in a place where they could act in a pretty sweeping way”.
However, Russian officials have denied that the country is planning an invasion of the bordering country.
He said that a “hybrid attack” from Putin was likely.
US President Joe Biden spoke with the Russian president in an attempt to calm tensions.
Mr Biden warned Mr Putin that the West would impose “strong economic and other measures” on the country if it invades Ukraine, while Mr Putin has demanded that NATO guarantees it will not expand further East.
UPDATES TO FOLLOW…