INTERNATIONAL: Viktoria Makarova, a Russian Ukranian resident, also a construction company manager from the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, a major industrial centre, 40 kilomotres from the Russian border, is spending her weekends learning how to use guns, practising martial arts and honing her first aid skills. The 44-year old mother was quoted as saying ; "Now is the time to protect my country, my house and my family. To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace. “

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that Kharkiv could be the first city to be attacked by Russian forces.

Makarova says; "Russian troops are amassing at our borders and there is a huge danger we will be invaded again. We are not going to run away and abandon our beloved city of Kharkov, this means we have to learn how to defend it.”

As fears grow over possible Russia invasion, the demand for military and self-defence courses has increased dramatically among the civilian.

Igor Pushkarev, a veteran of the 2014 war in eastern Ukraine who runs the weekend courses for residents of Kharkiv has said; "Every time Russian aggression grows, the people's motivation increases, they obviously want to refresh their skills and learn new ones.”

A 23-year-old student of law taking part in the course, Dariya Konokh, has said she was not surprised the majority of participants were female.

"This the right place for girls. I know a lot of professional female soldiers and I believe gender in this situation doesn't matter," she said.

Russia has denied planning to invade Ukraine but has tens of thousands of troops near its neighbour's borders.