Russia has today armed its neighbour Belarus with a battery of new TOR-M2 surface-to-air missiles systems amid fears of new land grab in Ukraine.
The arrival of the firepower comes as Vladimir Putin is swelling his troop numbers plus tanks and artillery on the territory of his neighbouring authoritarian ally.
The Kremlin is also seen as seeking to force Minsk dictator Alexander Lukashenko to enter the war amid fears of a fresh invasion towards Kyiv from the north early next year.