Russia starts military drills in Belarus amid warnings it could invade neighboring Ukraine any day

• Russia started military drills with Belarus on Thursday. Both are Ukraine's neighbors.
• Ukraine, the US, and Western countries warn Russia is preparing to invade.

Russia started military drills with Belarus on Thursday amid fears that it is about to invade Ukraine.

Russia's defense ministry said the joint exercises started on Thursday, describing it as a move that's also part of "defending the interests" of Russia, Russian news agency Interfax reported. It is expected to last ten days.

Belarus is a Russian ally, and both countries share borders with Ukraine.

The defense ministry said that multiple training grounds and airfields in Belarus would be used. It is calling the drills the Union Resolve 2022 Russian-Belarusian military exercise.

Around 30,000 Russian troops are expected to take part in the drills, the BBC reported.

Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops on Ukraine's border in total. Russia denies any plans to invade, but Ukraine, the US, and Western nations say Russia appears poised to invade any day.

Ukraine started its own drills on Thursday in response, Reuters reported, though it is not clear how many troops are involved there.

Diplomatic talks between Ukraine, Russia, and some Western countries are due to take place on Thursday.