The military drills involve some 45,000 soldiers, dozens of war planes and 15 submarines, in a move seemed to be aimed at further unnerving Ukraine and the EU, Ukraine Today reports.

Downplaying NATO drills in neighboring Norway, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Navy’s Northern Fleet to full combat readiness and exercises.

A nuclear capable ‘Iskander' missile system has also been sent to Kaliningrad, situated just next to Polish and Lithuanian borders.

See unian.info’s video section for more of the latest news from Ukraine in video from Ukraine Today, Ukraine’s 24-hour English-language news channel.