WW3 fears erupts as Putin "readies 300,000 troops" with 'hybrid' attacks warning issued

Vladimir Putin could be preparing to launch "hybrid" attacks against NATO countries supporting Ukraine, as well as mobilising 300,000 more troops, EU leaders and spy chiefs have warned. Intelligence gathered by the West suggests Russia is making preparations that would allow it to quietly expand its armed forces after the parliamentary elections, potentially bringing thousands more people into military service.

One intelligence source told The Telegraph: "What we are seeing is administrative preparations to make it possible to do it, if that was the decision." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously put the potential scale of a fresh Russian call-up at 300,000 people, citing intelligence obtained by Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has separately warned that Russia could launch "hybrid" attacks against countries supporting Ukraine, including Poland. Citing intelligence, the former European Council President warned potential Russian strikes could be presented as "accidental" and designed to test the resolve of NATO members.