RUSSIA “is mobilising for war” and could demolish the Baltic states “within 60 hours”, according to terrifying a new security report.
Hundreds more troops could be pumped into Eastern Europe to bolster NATO forces amid fears that Russia is gearing-up for a large-scale attack.
The shocking report, published by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), warns the Kremlin is not simply “modernising its military”, it is preparing for war.
NATO is currently undertaking Operation Anakonda in Eastern Europe — a multi-national military exercise involving Polish, Turkish, Canadian, British and American troops.
Up to 4,000 troops envisioned to make up a NATO force in the region but another report from military think tank The Rand Corporation states it would act as nothing more than “a speed bump” in the face of an expansionist attack by Vladimir Putin.
The Rand Corporation believes the Baltic states could be overrun by Putin's forces "within 60 hours".
But NATO could bolster the initial troops with 40,000 more made up of a rapid-response force in case of emergency.
The CSIS report, entitled 2018 Security Outlook, states: “Russia is not modernising its military primarily to extend its capacity to pursue hybrid warfare.
“It is modernising conventional military capability on a large scale; the state is mobilising for war."
It added: “Western assessments that Russia is vulnerable to economic collapse and disruptive internal discontent are exaggerated.
“Russia is adapting to adversity; the economy is deliberately tilted to security rather than economic freedom."
It comes as Canada is deciding whether or not to commit four battalions to Eastern Europe to strengthen the NATO forces.
The US, Britain and Germany publicly committed to the army on Tuesday, but Canadian federal sources said while the nation has not yet made a decision, an answer could come soon and Canada "supports what NATO is doing in the region."