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NATO has staged a show of strength against Vladimir Putin with British Paras taking part in a huge military exercise in Estonia, which neighbours Russia.
The drill was the organisation's biggest since the Cold War and saw 82 British soldiers and 60 American troops parachute from three US C-17 transporter planes.
The jump is part of a series of land, air and sea missions to be carried out by all 32 NATO states known as Exercise Steadfast Defender.
The exercises are set to take place in a range of different locations from the Arctic to the Mediterranean and yesterday's saw troops drop in a country which many fear the Russian president will invade next.
The display of unity comes after Russia launched a punishing wave of missile, kamikaze drone and artillery attacks on Kharkiv on Thursday night amid signs Vladimir Putin may seek to seize Ukraine's second city.
NATO has staged a show of strength against Vladimir Putin with British Paras (pictured) taking part in a huge military exercise in Estonia, which neighbours Russia
Parachuters pictured landing in Estonia during the mission which is part of Exercise Steadfast Defender - a series of NATO drills
The drill was the organisation's biggest since the Cold War and saw 82 British soldiers and 60 American troops parachute from three US C-17 transporter planes
Many fear Estonia, which lies on the northern end of the Russian border, will be Putin's next target
Shocking images and videos out of the devastated metropolis showed several residential buildings on fire and rubble strewn about the streets as rescue workers rushed to extinguish the blaze.
Corporal Thomas Keld, 35, was among the British troops who took part in the drill and told The Mirror: 'We started planning for this days ago - a lot of effort goes into it, manifesting, ground training, orders...
'We were up at 1 o'clock this morning packing kit. But the best part is when the doors open and you get hooked up and the lights come on. It's showtime. It's good fun...it's what we joined the Parachute Regiment for.'
Corporal Keld added that he had enjoyed jumping off the aircraft and feeling 'weightless' in the air.
Bombardier Ryan Shaves, 29, described the moment he exited the transporter plane.
He said: 'Everything goes completely silent and then you're just doing your drill, seeing who you're closest to and trying to get the best landing you can get.'
It comes amid growing tension between NATO countries and Russia after Britain expelled Moscow's defence attaché and shut a secret base known as 'Putin's Palace' earlier this week.
James Cleverly unveiled plans to 'target and dismantle Russian intelligence gathering operations' in what is seen as one of the most significant steps of its kind since the end of the Cold War.
Russia struck Kharkiv and Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, on the border with Russia, with a mass missile, drone, and artillery attack in the early hours of May 10, 2024
James Cleverly unveiled plans to 'target and dismantle Russian intelligence gathering operations'
The Home Secretary unmasked the Russian defence attaché, Colonel Maxim Elovik, as a top spy and he will be immediately expelled from the UK.
He also announced that a series of diplomatic premises suspected of being spy bases will lose their special legal status.
The minister told MPs: 'Our message to Russia is clear. Stop this illegal war, withdraw your troops from Ukraine, cease this malign activity.'
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