UK prepares 1,000 troops in case of refugee crisis if Ukraine invaded

British and Estonian soldiers on drill in northeastern Estonia, 100 km (62 miles) from the Russian border. The UK has offered to double its 900 troops in Estonia. Photograph: Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images

Britain has placed 1,000 troops on standby to deploy to eastern Europe if there is a refugee crisis prompted by any Russian invasion of Ukraine, ahead of a trip by Boris Johnson to Nato headquarters and Poland on Thursday.

UK officials warned there was a risk of “a humanitarian disaster” if Russia were to invade. The US has warned there could be a massive displacement of 1-5 million people, with refugees most likely to enter Poland.