moscow russia accuse west thursday whip hysteria large-scale military exercise underway eastern europe deny charge conduct lack transparency exercise codenamed `` zapad `` `` west `` start thursday last sept. 20. conduct military range belarus western russia russia 's exclave kaliningrad baltic sea graphic click tmsnrt.rs/2iikjeu reject complaints exercise transparent kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov tell conference call reporters believe whip hysteria around exercise provocation normal practice country hold exercise everything hold line international law peskov say russian president vladimir putin may visit one stag drill say nato closely watch exercise say large 12,700 servicemen moscow publicize actually number 100,000 troop involve fire nuclear-capable ballistic missiles russia defense ministry reiterate thursday exercise purely defensive nature threat third country group countries nato officials say drill simulate conflict u.s.-led alliance intend show russia ability mass large number troop short notice event conflict statement pentagon say russia belarus take step towards provide transparency concern official estimate troop number urge russia share information regard exercise operations nato vicinity clearly convey intentions minimize misunderstand lieutenant colonel michelle baldanza pentagon spokeswoman say statement response uncertainty u.s. build joint persistent rotational presence air land sea presence region support ally add amid allegations moscow aggressive ambition post-communist neighbor russia defense ministry say intend use drill springboard attack lithuania poland ukraine moscow say west threaten stability eastern europe nato put 4,000-strong multinational force baltics poland russia defense ministry say current drill involve 7,200 troop belarus 5,500 russia 70 aircraft helicopters 680 units military hardware include 250 tank 200 artillery piece multiple rocket launchers mortar 10 warships kremlin accuse west 'whipping hysteria russian war game