Russia confirmed it would deploy a new paratroop regiment to Crimea by December after complaining about a British agreement to boost Ukraine's navy. It said it showed British military activities were expanding near its borders.

Russia's military said it would establish the new regiment on the peninsula, completing a reshuffle of forces signaled by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in March, the Interfax news agency reported.

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At the same time, Moscow voiced its objections to a framework agreement under which Ukraine will use British financing to enhance its naval capabilities, allowing it to buy missiles and build ships and a navy base on the Sea of Azov.

"We see this fact as the latest practical evidence of increasing British military activity in the states bordering Russia, in particular Ukraine," Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a weekly briefing.

Ukraine and NATO countries have expressed concern about Russian troop movements near Ukraine's borders, while Moscow accused Ukraine, the U.S., and their allies of destabilizing behavior, including in the Black Sea.

Ukraine's defense ministry on Wednesday said its armed forces had conducted drills near the borders of Crimea.

Commenting on the UK-Ukraine deal, the two countries' defense ministers said: "Our governments have no desire to be adversarial, or seek in any way to strategically encircle or undermine the Russian Federation.

"We are concerned by Russia's military build-up and activity around the borders of Ukraine."

Russia has responded to such concerns by denying that it is threatening anyone, criticizing "alarmist" news reports, and affirming its right to deploy its troops as it likes on its own territory.