Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia last February, has also said it wants to receive long-range missiles from the West.

The Ukrainian military says it shot down all 24 drones sent overnight by Russia, including 15 around the capital, with no damage reported.

The twin decisions have galvanised multiple offers of more.

There are now a total of twenty people working to produce home-made anti-tank obstacles, including ten regulars.

The possibility of Islamist militants in Afghanistan infiltrating Tajikistan and other former Soviet republics in Central Asia is a worry for Moscow, which views the region as a defensive buffer to its south.