Russia is building up ‘over 360,000’ troops along Europe’s frontiers as Vladimir Putin prepares his next strategic manoeuvre, a former NATO official has cautioned.

German parliamentarian and former military officer Roderich Kiesewetter warned that 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most “critical” periods in contemporary European history, with Putin’s forces steadily positioning growing numbers of personnel within Belarus, suggesting military ambitions that stretch well beyond Ukraine.

The Kremlin has announced that more than 400,000 fresh recruits have joined the Russian military this year – exceeding the quota set by the president in January – whilst international defence experts have raised concerns about “unprecedentedly intense” winter training drills being carried out by units across the country in recent weeks.

Speaking to German broadcaster n-tv, Kiesewetter emphasised that Russia‘s two army corps positioned in Belarus, comprising 350,000 to 360,000 combat-ready troops, constituted one of the most concerning developments.

“This is worrying, especially in the Baltic states”, he declared, emphasising that Putin’s training of “hundreds of thousands of soldiers who are never deployed in Ukraine” showcased Russia’s transformation into a war economy reliant on continuous mobilisation for warfare.

He stressed that governments across Europe must ready their citizens for the escalating threat of conflict during what he described as a “critical” two-year period for the continent, noting that “survival” depends “not just through our ability to defend ourselves, and also by not frightening our population, but rather saying: ‘Attention, this could happen, let’s be careful.”

This comes after warnings from Britain’s top military official that more British families will come to “know what sacrifice for our nation means” as the country steels itself for potential conflict with Russia. Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton stated that “sons and daughters” must be prepared to defend the U.K., while educational institutions should encourage students to pursue careers in defence manufacturing.

Sir Richard conceded that whilst the probability of a direct Russian attack on the UK remains low, “that does not mean the chances are zero.”

Speaking at a Royal United Services Institute event in Westminster yesterday evening, he declared: “Sons and daughters. Colleagues. Veterans will all have a role to play. To build. To serve. And if necessary, to fight. And more families will know what sacrifice for our nation means.”

This follows comments from French Chief of Defence Staff Fabien Mandon last month, who warned that France must prepare to “lose its children” in a potential war.

Similarly, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on allies to prepare for a global conflict similar to what their “grandparents or great-grandparents endured” during World War II.