Russian nuclear forces have been placed on 'high alert' under new orders from Vladimir Putin in response to "aggressive statements" by the UK's Foreign Secretary, the Kremlin has said.
More troops have joined the shifts at Russia's nuclear missile forces, Northern and Pacific fleets, where they have increased preparations for "combat duty", according to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
The move was in line in a new order from Putin on Sunday, February 27, Russian news agency Interfax, reports.
The Russian leader ordered his military command to put Russia's deterrence forces - which include nuclear arms - on high alert,
citing what he called aggressive statements by NATO leaders and Western economic sanctions against Moscow.
Putin has reportedly blamed statements by Liz Truss, the UK Foreign Secretary for the nuclear threat.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told Putin that "shifts on duty at the command posts of the Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern and Pacific Fleets, and the Long-Range Aviation Command began to carry out combat duty with reinforced personnel", Interfax reports.
Liz Truss has backed Brits travelling to Ukraine to fight the Russian invasion calling it a "just cause".
Responding to Peskov’s accusation, an ally of Truss told The Sunday Times: “Nothing Liz has said warrants that sort of escalation. It’s clearly designed to distract from the situation on the ground in Ukraine."
The latest move by Putin has been condemned by Western leaders with the United States describing it as an escalation of the situation.
A senior U.S. defence official said it was "putting in play forces that, if there's a miscalculation, could make things much, much more dangerous."
Russian forces have come up against tough Ukrainian resistance after launching a full scale invasion last week.
Putin has justified his attack, claiming he is liberating Ukraine from "neo-Nazi" rule which threatens Russia's security - a charge Kyiv and Western governments say is baseless propaganda.
The Russian leader has been described as "delusional" by his own people who have taken to the streets of St Petersburg in protest.
Western intelligence also suggested last week that Putin had "greatly" underestimated the challenge of invading, believing he would conquer the capital in two days.
Instead Russian troops have reportedly suffered 'heavy' casualties as the UK defence ministry said that they had failed to take control of Ukrainian airspace over the weekend.
Passionate Ukraine civilians have responded to calls from their President, Volodymyr Zelensky and have taken up arms as they prepare to fight for their country and freedom.
Many gathered in the street to make Molotov cocktails (petrol bombs) and warned Putin to expect a 'street fight'.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will fly to Estonia and Poland to meet with his foreign counterparts, and the NATO secretary general.
The UK has doubled its tank support and sent British troops to Estonia to protect it from any advancement of the Russian invasion, Armed Forces Miniter, James Heappey confirmed last week.
