Russia on Wednesday criticized a two-week NATO naval exercise in the Baltic Sea as “provocative,” one day before it was to begin.

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko accused the Western alliance of preparing a confrontation with Russia with its annual BALTOPS exercise.

“It’s about achieving superiority in all areas: on land, on the sea and in the air,” he said. “Of course exercises of this kind are extremely provocative,” Grushko told the Russian state news agency TASS.

“We assess NATO’s military activities as part of preparations for military conflict with Russia,” Grushko said.

The 54th edition of the BALTOPs exercises is being held in the eastern German port of Rostock, for the first time.

Around 50 vessels, more than 25 aircraft and around 9,000 troops from 17 countries are participating in the US-led exercise that will run from Thursday to June 20.

Russia is the sole country among the nine with a Baltic Sea coastline that is not a NATO member.

Moscow is itself currently conducting an exercise in the region with more than 20 naval ships, gunboats and support vessels.

“The exercises are being conducted to test the actions of the fleet forces in defending the bases,” the Russian navy said.

According to state television, the exercise, which began on May 27, is continuing into this week.

It involves corvettes, frigates, small missile ships, small submarines and minesweepers, around 25 aircraft, including helicopters, around 3,000 troops and up to 70 specialist units.