Vladimir Putin has promised a near-doubling of Russia’s defence spending over the next decade as he seeks to bolster his credentials with the military two weeks before presidential elections on March 4.

Arguing the case for strengthening the country’s defences – in an article in the Moscow daily Rossiskaya Gazeta – Russia’s prime minister wrote: “New regional and local wars are being sparked before our very eyes?.?.?. There are attempts to provoke such conflicts in the immediate vicinity of the borders of Russia and our allies.”

Mr Putin said the military spending spree on ballistic missiles, ships, aircraft and other high-tech weapons would cost Rbs23tn ($768bn), a Rbs4tn increase over previous plans announced in 2008 for the modernisation of the military.