MOSCOW - Russia said on Monday it would carry out more than 4,000 military drills next year, with the largest involving "tens of thousands" of servicemen next summer.

Russia has increased the number of military drills to test and improve its military capabilities as ties with the West deteriorated over the crisis in Ukraine.

"The exercises will take place in the summer period simultaneously on several training grounds within Russia and abroad," Yaroslav Roshupkin, a spokesman for Russia's Central Military District, said of the planned "Centre 2015" drills.

"They will be extended in time and bring together under unified command tens of thousands of servicemen of the Central Military District, branches and types of the armed forces, as well as other security ministries and agencies."

He said new weapons would also be tested during the exercises.

The Defence Ministry said next year's plans mark an increase from more than 3,000 drills carried out this year.