Fears are growing a war could be declared within weeks after suspected Russian military moved close to rebel-held eastern Ukraine and annexed Crimea.
Tensions between the nations are rising sharply after the movement of troops in Russian regions, including Voronezh, Rostov and Krasnodar, as well as major railing lines.
Pavel Felgenhauer, an independent Russian military analyst, said: “The threats are growing, and rapidly. Much is not discussed in the media, but we are seeing very bad signs.
“The crisis has the potential to escalate into a pan-European war, if not even a world one.
“But for now, potential. Will it happen or not?
“Let’s wait and see.
“In the West, they don’t know what to do about it.”
Clips of tanks and armoured vehicles are being widely shared online. Three large Russian Baltic Fleet landing ships passed south through the English Channel, accompanied by a corvette, last month.
And Mr Felgenhauer claimed all the conditions for a war could be in place by early May when Russian will hold a major Red Square parade to mark the anniversary of victory in World War Two, and he suspected a “decision has been made already”.
Russia could be planning a “Normandy-style landing” between Odessa and Mykolaiv, the expert claimed.
Putin has huge forces in occupied east Ukraine – which fell under his sway in 2014, and in Crimea which was occupied.
“Obviously, a major operation is being prepared, and other forces will be brought in as well,” Mr Felgenhauer added.
“Everyone is talking about a possible tank invasion from Belgorod through Kharkiv in the direction of Zaporizhia in order to surround Ukrainian forces on the left bank of the Donbass.”
Mr Felgenhauer, 69, has worked as a military analyst for newspapers in Russia for years.
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