Troops in central Russia have been put on “full combat alert”, a day after neighbouring Ukraine declared a week-long ceasefire.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the alert would encompass the Volga region and Ural mountains and would last a week, according to Russian state news media.
The one-week drill will include 65,000 troops, according to the head of Russia’s General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov.
Last week Russia continued to build-up its forces on the border with Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists are locked in battle with Ukraine government forces in a conflict that has killed some 300 people and forced 34,000 civilians to leave their homes.
