RUSSIAN Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu reviewed live-fire exercises in western Belarus on Thursday (January 3), part of a surge of military activity close to Ukraine.

Russia, in its biggest deployment to Belarus since the Cold War ended, is expected to have 30,000 troops as well as fighter jets and missile systems for the joint exercises that run until Feb. 20, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.

The presence of a large Russian force in Belarus has added to western fears that Russia could be preparing to attack Ukraine on multiple fronts. Moscow denies any such intention and says the exercises are defensive in nature.

Ukraine said Russia currently has a total of 115,000 troops near its borders.

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