NATO Expands Offensive Drills Near Russian Borders, Says Russian Foreign Ministry

Vladislav Maslennikov, head of the European Affairs Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that the scale of NATO exercises close to Russia's borders is expanding, with a notable rise in the employment of offensive scenarios.

Maslennikov commented, "The increase in the scope of NATO exercises, especially near Russia's borders, along with the growing use of offensive scenarios in these drills, is remarkable."

The naval exercises named "Breeze," involving the Bulgarian Navy and NATO forces, commenced last Tuesday.

Additionally, the joint military drills "Eagle Partner 2026" took place in Armenia in mid-June, featuring units from the Armenian, American, French, and Greek armed forces.

In recent years, Russia has observed unprecedented NATO activity along its western borders. The alliance continues to expand its military initiatives, framing them as measures to "deter Russian aggression."

Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern about NATO's troop buildup in Europe. The Russian Foreign Ministry has affirmed that Russia remains open to dialogue with NATO on an equal footing, urging the West to abandon its policy of militarizing the continent.