NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and Russia have long had a hostile and fragile dynamic. The 32-member alliance was formed in 1949 to counter the risk of Soviet attack.

The alliance now focusses protecting ally counties by promising that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. It has been the cornerstone of the West's security.

EurAsia Daily reported that NATO intelligence services have been monitoring Russian Northern Fleet and believe that attempts are being made to place missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads on the seabed.

German media has reported that the project, named "Scythians", may have been implemented for several years.

It is understood that the missiles would be placed in the Arctic Ocean on Russian territory. They could be located at the bottom of the ocean in specially designed mines or containers.

Reports have said that if Russia does deploy missiles, they could remain on the seabed for some time and be launched remotely.

Missile launchers on the seabed would be difficult to detect and destroy in the case of war.

The Daily Express previously reported that Vladimir Putin's forces test-fired a number of nuclear-capable missiles in a chilling threat to the rest of the world.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that on Thursday, May 21, during nuclear forces exercises, test launches were conducted of the 'Yars' and 'Sineva' ICBMs, as well as hypersonic missiles from the 'Zircon' and 'Kinzhal' systems.

Meanwhile, the Belarusian military conducted a test launch of an 'Iskander' missile, Russian news agency Interfax said.

This comes after an angry war of words with NATO state Lithuania over fears of a Putin military operation in the Baltic.

Alliance fighters were scrambled in Lithuania on Wednesday amid reported drone incursions from Russian ally Belarus which is currently involved in the nuclear drills with Kremlin forces.