article_snippet: The incident led to Russia’s ambassador to Britain being summoned to the Foreign Office to explain the mission.
article_snippet: They are being prepared for possible action at air bases in Russia that are within easy striking distance of Britain.
article_snippet: It comes at a time of heightened tension between Russia and the West, and while Britain Armed Forces are shrinking due to spending cuts.
article_snippet: Between now and 2020, the size of the Spetsnaz (Special Forces) regiments will increase from 15,000 to 32,000.
article_snippet: Trained to the same level as Britain’s Special Air Service (SAS), they were used in Chechnya and, most recently, in eastern Ukraine where they are understood to have organised a guerilla campaign by Russian separatists.
article_snippet: Experts also believe Putin could send the Spetsnaz to the Baltic states of Latvia and Lithuania, both Nato members, to organise resistance among ethnic Russians.
article_snippet: Dr Sutyagin added: ‘Military activity in Crimea and eastern Ukraine Ukraine has borne all the hallmarks of the special Russian units – it would be a mistake to believe the same tactics might not be applied elsewhere.
article_snippet: We are aware of recent Russian military activity. '