INTERNATIONAL: Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers took part in river crossing drills in the Luhansk region on Tuesday as tensions with neighbouring Russia continue to ramp up.

The exercises, which included assembling a pontoon bridge on the Aidar River, was held near the town of Novoaidar, on the territories under Kyiv government control.

The Brigadier General, Deputy Commander of Joint Forces, Mykhailo Drapatyi says amid the growing aggression from the Russian Federation, they have to be always ready for combat. Ready for any possible development.

"We have not only practiced setting up a pontoon bridge promptly, but also crossing it with army units, mechanized tanks, special forces, deployment into battle order for an attack, capturing strategic points for main forces positioning, or conducting counterattacks."

"If we will give a nice, strong, solid military counterpunch, and we are ready for it - this will lead to collapse of the Russian military and political authorities. Because there will be casualties on the Russian side, we know it. And it doesn't matter how much they are trying to flex their iron muscles. They know that there will be colossal losses. They know it, and they are assessing.”

Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday has approved a draft law allowing foreign troops to take part in military exercises on the territory of the former Soviet republic in 2022, a move likely to infuriate Russia.

The draft law submitted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plans to hold ten extensive military exercises next year.

Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO, has stepped up military cooperation with Western countries amid an increase in what they claim is hostile activity by Russia and its proxies that has raised the risk of open war between the two neighbours.

The second-largest country by area in Europe after Russia, accuses Russia of massing around 100,000 troops in preparation for a possible military offensive, raising fears that a simmering conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region could erupt into open war between the neighbors.

Moscow says its moves are purely defensive and has the right to move forces around its territory as it sees fit.

^{PHOTO: UKRAINIAN ARMY DRILLS IN PROCESS/ COMMENT BY DEPUTY COMMANDER OF JOINT FORCES ABOUT DRILLS}