Moscow: NATO’s Military Activity Leads to Increased Military Threats for Russia

"No doubt," he said when asked whether NATO troop maneuvers near Russia’s borders are seen as new threats.

"The mounting military dangers and military threats to Russia are also facilitated by NATO’s active military activities, the development of US global missile defense capabilities along with [the drills] practicing the use of large military formations and nuclear weapons against Russia," Popov specified.

Furthermore, the role of non-nuclear weapons that have "a longer range and more powerful combat equipment" is growing, he added, stating, "And all this is taking place right before our eyes."

Popov recalled that NATO’s Defender Europe 2021 had been recently conducted near Russia’s borders, turning out to be the largest multinational exercise since the Cold War, as troops from 26 countries were involved.

"The drills practiced large-scale US forces’ deployment to Europe, the deployment and use of large joint task force groups, as well as options for piercing through the Russian access restriction zones in the regions of the Black and Baltic Seas," Popov noted.

NATO’s Sea Breeze naval maneuvers kicked off in the Western part of the Black Sea on June 28, bringing together troops from 32 countries. About 4,000 personnel, 40 combat ships, vessels and auxiliary craft, and 30 planes took part in the exercise, he announced.

He said the West’s actions demonstrate that it has embarked on a course for military, political and psychological pressure on Russia and a deliberate escalation near its borders.

"All that shows that the West has actually set a course for military, strategic, political and psychological pressure on the Russian Federation, as well as the deliberate escalation of military tensions near the borders with Russia, which does not contribute to strategic stability," he stated, commenting on the actions of Western countries, including large-scale NATO exercises close to Russia’s borders.

Popov noted that NATO warships had been chosen as a tool of pressure on Russia.

Such steps are "based on an arbitrary interpretation of the provisions of international maritime law and long-standing naval traditions," he added.

"As an example, I will cite the recent incident involving Britain’s Defender warship that occurred in Russia’s territorial waters on June 23. British sailors deliberately resorted to a provocation and escalation, violating Russia’s maritime border. The Russian Federation’s stance on the incident is unambiguous - that was a pre-planned provocation, which was rightfully thwarted," Popov stressed.

Popov added that there had been a huge increase in reconnaissance activity by foreign states near Russia’s borders, with over 1,000 foreign planes and drones performing spy missions last year.

"The reconnaissance activity of foreign states has increased many times," he stressed.

"Specifically, more than 1,000 spy planes and drones of foreign states conducted air reconnaissance of Russian territory in 2020," the security official said.

The Russian security official also pointed to NATO’s intensified military activity as an increasing military threat to Russia. He mentioned the alliance’s large-scale military drills near the Russian borders that practiced employing large troop formations and nuclear weapons against Russia.