Russia could invade Europe by 2029 – and Putin is massing 3 MILLION soldiers, warns top German general

RUSSIA could launch a widespread invasion of Europe as early as 2029, according to the chief of Germany's military.

Putin will have amassed a 3million-strong army by next year, and many fear he will use it to bulldoze through more nations.

Inspector General Carsten Breuer told Welt that countries should be armed and ready before the end of the decade in anticipation of further Russian aggression.

He warned that Russia will be "capable of a large-scale conventional attack, even on Nato territory, by 2029".

Breuer added that Putin wants to "weaken and destroy Nato as an alliance and discredit our Western form of society".

He concluded that Europe's "goal is 2029", insisting: "We have to be ready by then."

Germany last week announced its first permanent troop deployment since the Second World War of 5,000 soldiers to Lithuania.

Putin is pushing a massive recruitment drive to replace his troops that are dying in huge numbers and to grow his army.

Just last week he conscripted 160,000 men between 18 and 30 - the largest call up since 2011.

Many see the expansion as Putin gearing up for a more ambitious - and Breuer described it as a "clear threat".

Russia's army is expected to swell to double the size it was at the start of the invasion - meaning it would be almost 3million-strong.

Breuer noted that is far larger than is needed to sustain the war in Ukraine.

And its not just personnel Russia is building up.

Breuer said: "We see that about 1,500 battle tanks are either produced anew every year or taken out of storage and refurbished.

"And the [Russian] warehouses are being filled with ammunition."

There are fears that a renewed invasion campaign from Russia could spark World War Three - with Putin's top crony Aleksey Zhuravlyov urging his country not to be shy about battling Europe.

Europe is already taking steps to prepare itself for a wider war.

Across the continent, governments are spending more on defence and planning for conscription.

There are calls for Britain to join other countries in kickstarting a conscription programme.

Some nations have even issued survival guides to see their citizens through war, with France being the latest to announce the move.

The 20-page booklet will give advice to French civilians on how to defend the republic in the face of an invasion by signing up to reserve units or local defence efforts.

It will also have tips on how to create a survival kit with essentials including six litres of water, canned food, batteries, and basic medical supplies.

There are particular fears for the safety of the Baltic states - Croatia, Lithuania and Latvia - which are considered Putin's most likely next target.

The three nations are building a joint defence line on their border with Russia that will have some six-hundred bunkers.

It will also include tank ditches, forests, dragon's teeth, hedgehogs, and rocket systems.

Poland and the Baltics have also withdrawn an international treaty banning anti-personnel landmines as they prepare to stop an advancing Russian army in its tracks.