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More than 40 million people – almost a third of the country – will take part in the unprecedented civil defence exercise from October 4 to 7.

Paranoid state officials and the media have warned the US is about to launch an all-out attack after cutting ties with Russia over its bombing campaign in Syria.

Putin's ministers announced they have built nuclear bunkers capable of holding all of Moscow’s 12 million residents on Friday.

Now the country appears to be readying citizens for an imminent strike.

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More than 200,000 specialist rescue units as well the military and paramilitary will be involved in the groundbreaking drill.

Federal executive authorities, heads of regions, local governing bodies and organisations will take part, as well as paramilitary mine rescue divisions, the state small vessel inspectorate and the fire service.

It is being coordinated by EMERCOM – the Emergencies Ministry of Russia.

Russia held military manoeuvres involving 8,000 troops and 2,000 military vehicles on Europe’s doorstep at the end of August.

Last year it unveiled a “Doomsday Plane” that could allow commanders to continue directing the military from the safety of the skies in the event of a nuclear war.

But this is the first large-scale drill preparing the Russian public for Armageddon.

Ash Carter, US secretary of state, has told the Pentagon Russia could be plotting a "unprecedentedly terrible attack" using its superior nuclear firepower.

Russia has 7,300 nukes – compared to America’s 6,970.

Sergey Manuilov, director of the emergency situations ministry, civil defence department, said: "Training will be held from October 4 to 7.

“It will bring together more than 40 million people, more than 200 thousand professionals rescue units, about 50,000 units.

“The full force of the Russian emergencies ministry will be utilised – including military units, EMERCOM emergency rescue units, paramilitary rescue units and the state inspectorate for small boats – a division of the state fire service of EMERCOM."

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NATO has scrambled to deal with the threat from Russia after security experts warned it could overrun Eastern Europe in just 60 hours in the summer.