AN American tank brigade rolled into Poland yesterday amid growing fears Russia is planning another Ukraine-style land grab in eastern Europe.

The M1 Abrams main battle tanks and supporting armoured vehicles of the 2nd Armoured Brigade Combat Team docked in the north of the country overnight to bolster Nato forces along Russia’s border.

6 US battle tanks are unloaded at a port in Gdansk, Poland, yesterday Credit: Reuters

6 The tanks and other vehicles are from the 2nd Armoured Brigade Combat Team Credit: AP:Associated Press

The arrival of some 1,000 pieces of US military equipment is part of the largest reinforcement of eastern Europe since the end of the Cold War.

Behind it all is Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, and its ongoing “shadow war” is support of pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine.

The tanks’ arrival comes just days ahead of Russia’s controversial Zapad 2017 war games, conducted with its ally and neighbour Belarus.

Poland has expressed fears the manoeuvres are practice for a future invasion, intended to expand the Russian Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad – located between Poland and Lithuania.

It has also highlighted how regions of Belarus with large populations of ethnic Poles have been designated “terrorist insurgents” as part of the games’ imaginary scenario.

Others have expressed fears the exercise could be a cover a massive — and permanent — re-positioning of Russian troops, and possibly even a takeover of the pro-Moscow ally itself.

6 Around 1,000 pieces of US military equipment were shipped to Poland Credit: AP:Associated Press

6 Soldiers stand near military equipment which arrived as part of a Nato mission Credit: Reuters

Moscow insists the military manoeuvres are small and of no threat to anyone.

But despite Vladimir Putin’s insistence that only 12,700 troops will be involved— just under the 13,000 figure that triggers treaty agreements for international observers — Germany and France say the real figure is closer to 100,000.

Russia used the pretence of similar military “snap drills” in its Kavkaz 2008 exercise to disguise the start of its brief war with Georgia.

Belarus and Russian defence officials say the Zapad drill will involve troops from the Kola Peninsula, near Finland, and range down to Kaliningrad.

6 The move forms part of the biggest military reinforcement of eastern Europe since the Cold War Credit: Reuters

The arriving US tanks are joining four multinational battalions recently deployed to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia amid fears over Russian intentions throughout the region.

They are there to emphasise Nato’s determination to defend its allies — and Russia’s closest Western neighbours.

The newly arrived 2nd Armoured Brigade Combat Team will be based in Gdansk.

It will join the 3rd Brigade Combat Team in touring nations ranging from Bulgaria and Estonia.

6 Belarusian army vehicles prepare for war games with their Russian allies Credit: AP:Associated Press

European operations spokesman Master Sergeant Brent Williams told the Pentagon’s Stars and Stripes news service: “This will be the first time two armoured brigades transition within the European theatre sending a full complement of soldiers and equipment into Germany and Poland in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.”

It further reinforces the defence forces of Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, along with 4,000 forward-deployed NATO troops from Britain, Canada, Germany and the US.

The arrival comes as relations between the West and Russia reach a new low since the end of the Cold War.

A tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomatic staff between Washington and Moscow continues to escalate, while new sanctions have recently been imposed by US Congress.

And allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election campaign continue to grow.

A version of this story originally appeared on News.com.au.

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