Russia deploys paratroopers to Belarus border region amid fears of conflict

America has warned Vladimir Putin will be making a 'serious mistake' if he invades Ukraine after the Russian president provoked the West by deploying troops in Belarus and sending bombers over the North Sea. Elsewhere today: The EU said it is alarmed by Russian military activities close to Ukraine, is watching the situation closely and 'looking at further steps' along with the United States and Britain Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russia is waging 'hybrid warfare' on Europe using migrants Kamala Harris said 'eyes of the world' are on situation at Belarus-Poland border and US is watching 'closely' US and European delegations accused Minsk of endangering lives for political ends at UN Security Council Former UK defence minister Tobias Ellwood called Russia's moves 'deeply concerning' and a 'test of resolve' Turkey barred citizens from Iraq, Syrian and Yemen from flying to Belarus amid fears they will head to border Fears are growing of an imminent conflict in eastern Europe as Russia and Belarus carry out snap military drills close to where a migrant crisis is playing out on Poland's border, while Washington warns Putin is preparing to invade eastern Ukraine Russia and Belarus said paratroopers from both countries had been involved in joint drills in Gozhsky today, located just 20 miles from the Polish border where migrants are trying to cross The Belarusian defence ministry said the troops practiced capturing bridges, hunting down and destroying targets, and defeating enemy patrols during the drill to 'test combat readiness' The surprise training mission came as it was revealed British military engineers are now at the border to strengthen the defences, amid warnings from all sides that the situation risks spilling over into armed conflict Poland has deployed some 15,000 troops to its eastern border where they have spent much of this week trying to hold back thousands of migrants that Lukashenko's regime is accused of forcing into the region Poland, along with the leaders of nearby Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, has been warning that the crisis has the potential to spill over into a full-blown conflict The military drills are taking place just 20 miles from the Kuznica border crossing with Poland, where thousands of migrants are currently gathered trying to cross over Poland has reported dozens of attempts to cross the border today, including a group of migrants who broke through the Belarusian side of the crossing and began trying to cross the Polish side of the fence Lukashenko wants payback for EU sanctions and Putin enjoys mischief: Why Belarus and Russia are causing chaos in Europe What is behind the crisis? Drone footage taken by Belarus border guards shows part of a large migrant camp that has sprung up along the Polish border, as the EU accuses Belarus of forcing vulnerable people into harm's way Poland has been complaining that Belarus has been sending migrants to its borders for months, but the crisis dramatically escalated this week with the sudden arrival of thousands of migrants in the area Washington's warning comes as Putin masses his forces close to Ukrainian territory, with satellite images taken in the last few weeks showing large camps of tanks and artillery pieces in the region Ukraine warns there are now some 90,000 Russian soldiers near its border, where it has been fighting a years-long insurgency in its eastern regions by Russian-backed separatists Poland has moved some 15,000 troops to its border with Belarus to help contain a migrant crisis that the EU accuses Lukashenko of engineering, amid warnings that situation could also spill over into conflict Polish troops have accused their Belarusian counterparts of inflaming tensions by firing blank rounds and pushing migrants through the border fence in an attempt to provoke a confrontation Russia has been flying nuclear-capable bombers over Belarus - its close ally - in a show of strength amidst the crisis Amid the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Belarus is pressuring Europe over migrants and has threatened to cut off gas supplies to the continent by shutting the Yamal-Europe pipeline which runs through its territory Russia then held more military drills around the Crimean peninsula and Ukraine's eastern border over the summer, with yet more troops moved to the region. The Biden administration is reportedly warning European allies of the possibility of an imminent attack by Russia on Ukraine, though Russia denied the accusations Belarusian troops stand guard while id workers had out food on the Belarusian side of the border on Friday Migrants unload logs during the distribution of humanitarian aid in a makeshift camp on the Belarusian-Polish border Belarus denies engineering the crisis and has warned that armed groups in Ukraine are trying to give weapons to the migrants to spark a conflict Migrants gather for getting humanitarian aid spread by Belarusian militaries at the camp at the Belarus-Polish border on November 11. Video showed around a hundred refugees pouring across a highway at the border and reaching a grassy knoll where they cheered defiantly at Polish riot police and troops stationed along a barbed wire fence A toddler is carried by its mother, swaddled in blankets to protect her from the harsh Belarusian November chill at the border A Belarusian military doctor provides medical care to a migrant at the camp at the Belarus-Polish border in the Grodno region The EU accuses Lukashenko of luring the migrants to Belarus and the country's Belavia airline has been forced to deny it is involved in trafficking the refugees as part of the 'hybrid war.'