Russia fears NATO military exercises (Photo)

“All movements created by Western media around the “Zapad-2017) exercise are just a cover for increasing the activity of NATO forces near Russian borders and Belarus”, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

According to the minister, NATO was developing tactics for use of nuclear weapons, reports “Sputnik International” Transmission Periscope.

The top official's statement comes amid NATO defence ministers' recent decision to establish two more commands, thus improving the movement of military troops in Europe.

Several eastern NATO member states have repeatedly voiced concerns about military exercises “Zapad-2017”, which was held between 14-20 in Belarus, claiming that Russian troops, located in Belarus for the exercise, could stay in place after the exercise is completed, claiming to pose a threat to Eastern Europe's security.

Russian officials and Belarus have repeatedly dismissed doubts, saying the planned exercises were merely protective and posed no threat to Eastern European states.

In addition, Russia and Belarus invited NATO experts and foreign journalists to observe the exercises.

NATO has significantly increased its military presence near Russia's borders since 2014 under the pretext of a “threat claimed to have Moscow present members of the eastern alliance following Ukraine's internal conflict. /Periscopi/