Vladimir Putin’s forces ‘could keep up war games for months’

Russia’s war games on the border with Ukraine could rumble on for months, Western officials fear.

The US ambassador to Ukraine, Kristina Kvien, last night said she was ‘very concerned’ the Kremlin could launch an attack ‘within the next week’.

But after yesterday’s predicted date for an invasion passed, Moscow was accused of creating a ‘new normal’, with military force being used to bully and intimidate – keeping up the pressure on Ukraine and keeping the West on high alert. 

Intelligence officials said they were prepared for the long haul and fear there will be no let-up in Russia’s war games, cyber-attacks and disinformation for many months.

They said President Vladimir Putin’s 150,000-strong invasion force is to stay camped around its neighbour and may even launch ballistic missiles as part of its menacing military drills.

Intelligence officials said President Vladimir Putin’s 150,000-strong invasion force is to stay camped around its neighbour and may even launch ballistic missiles as part of its menacing military drills

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said yesterday that, despite Kremlin claims of a second day of troop withdrawals, Britain was actually seeing Putin’s forces move to ‘attack areas’.

At a meeting of defence ministers in Brussels – including Mr Wallace – Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia’s use of military force to contest sovereignty was ‘the new normal’.

He said: ‘There are signs from Moscow that diplomacy should continue, but so far we do not see any sign of de-escalation on the ground.’

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one security source said: ‘President Putin’s military is his most powerful tool but not his only one, cyber, disinformation and rhetoric are others, there’s a constant drum beat.

‘Russian military exercises will continue for many weeks and I expect things to remain really confusing and ambiguous. Russia is also likely to fire ballistic missiles eastwards from its bases in Belarus as part of these exercises.’

Ukraine yesterday reacted to the latest configuration of Russian forces by moving troops closer to the border.

Another official said: ‘Ukrainian troops are… up for the fight. We are in this for several months.’

The intelligence picture remains that Ukraine is effectively encircled, with Russian troops in Moldova, Belarus and Russia itself posing an immediate threat, while naval vessels in the Black Sea threaten southern cities such as Odessa. 

Russian state news agency Tass confirmed there would be no withdrawal from Russia’s border with Ukraine for ‘three to four weeks’.

Officials said they were prepared for the long haul and fear there will be no let-up in Russia’s war games, cyber-attacks and disinformation for many months

US President Joe Biden speaks in the White House about Russian military activity near Ukraine

However, troops may leave Belarus before then. Bilateral exercises are due to end there on Monday.

Yesterday, Moscow mocked the West’s attempts to anticipate its actions, with a Kremlin spokesman inviting more predictions so she could arrange her holidays around them.

British troops landed in Estonia last night to shore up the country’s defences over fears Putin could target the Baltic States.

The UK is doubling its personnel numbers and sending tanks and armoured fighting vehicles from the Royal Welsh battlegroup.

The Ministry of Defence declined to say how many UK soldiers are now in Estonia but it is thought to be in the high hundreds.

UK Apache attack helicopters will take part in exercises in eastern Europe and four RAF Typhoon jets will fly deterrence sorties over Romania and Bulgaria.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is due to visit Ukraine, Poland and Germany this week to reinforce British support for Kiev.