Russia masses forces near border as Ukraine advances on Donetsk

Russia has began military exercises involving fighter jets and bombers near the border with Ukraine. More than 100 aircraft, including bombers and fighter jets, are taking part in manoeuvres, which run from Monday to Friday, in a show of Russia’s military strength. During the exercises, aircraft will shoot at ground and air based targets at testing fields near the south-east border with Ukraine. Air defence systems will fire surface-to-air missiles near Astrakhan. The military exercises comes as Russia has doubled the number of troops near the border with Ukraine over the past few weeks, leading to fears that it could launch an attack on Ukraine with little notice. Russia has moved 17 battalions of 19,000 to 21,000 troops to within miles of the border. It has increased the number of surface-to-air missile units there from eight to 14 and deployed more than 30 artillery batteries.