Russia fighter jets will take part in exercises on thwarting a potential missile attack off the coasts of Russia and NATO member state Norway, in the Barents Sea, RIA news agency said on Thursday.

MiG-31 jets will take part in the initial part of the exercises in the Perm region and the next stage would be launched in the next few days from the Monchegorsk airfield in the Murmansk region of northern Russia.

During the second stage, crews will intercept missiles and planes of an imaginary army, reports Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty. The drills are scheduled to end on March 6th.

Russian news agencies also said small anti-submarine shops from the Pacific Fleet would stage exercises in the Sea of Japan next month.

NATO states have voiced concern over an increase in Russian military exercises and "near misses" with Russian military aircraft since the conflict in east Ukraine began. NATO said last November that planes from its member states had to scramble 400 times throughout the year in response to an increase in Russian air activity around Europe not seen since the Cold War.

(Reporting By Katya Golubkova, Writing by Timothy Heriatge, Editing by Elizabeth Piper)