West on war footing after Russian troops mass at border with Latvia and Putin moves nuclear-missiles closer to central Europe

LATVIA is now on high alert after Russian president Vladimir Putin sneaked nuclear-capable missiles into central Europe – sparking fears he is poised to attack.

He sent a ship loaded with an Iskander-M missile system to Kaliningrad, a small Russian enclave located between Poland and Lithuania, in a bid to boost his sphere of military influence.

It has been described as the worst threat to the Baltic state’s sovereignty in more than 70 years as Moscow’s military influence on the Continent as the area soars between Poland and Lithuania.

Latvia’s defence ministry’s spokesman Kaspars Galkins said: “Due to increased activity of the Russian military near the Latvian borders Latvia’s national armed forces were given notice, and we increased ground, sea and air surveillance.”

Estonian media reports that Moscow sent the Iskander-M missile system on a civilian ship to the Russian city of Kaliningrad in order to ensure it was undetected by Russian-owned Kaliningrad.

Romania and Poland were warned by Putin earlier this year that they are  “in the cross-hairs” by hosting parts of a US missile shield.

Pentagon officals reports that American Stealth bombers have been testing nuclear weapons in preparation for war.

Earlier this year the UK’s Government announced plans to deploy a 500-strong battalion to Estonia.

While last month Russia held a four-day-long nuclear evacuation drill involving 40million civilians, 200,000 emergency workers and troops and more than 50,000 pieces of equipment.

It has prompted fears that the world is set for a return to the Cold War era.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368