On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened the West not to breach Russia's "red lines," warning that any hostilities would be met with a rapid and brutal response, and those accountable would be held responsible, will regret later.

At a time when ties with the United States and Europe are strained, with Russian soldiers swarmed near Ukraine and leader of the opposition Alexei Navalny on hunger strike in detention, the Kremlin leader utilized his state of the nation address to display of Russian strength and resistance in the face of external challenges.

"We want friendly relations and we don't want to ruin ties," Putin told both houses of parliament. " If anyone misinterprets our noble intentions for ignorance or incompetence and plans to blow up these ties, they should be aware that Russia's response would be unbalanced, rapid, and brutal." Russia must decide where the red line would be in any individual case, comparing those that threaten it to hyenas commanded by a tiger.

His remarks come at the end of a speech that was overshadowed by Russia's reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic misery. Putin proposed new social security initiatives for families of children ahead of legislative elections in September. When it came to international affairs, he took a more serious approach. "In some nations, they have formed a highly unsavory knack for picking on Russia for any occasion, and mostly without any reason is some kind of game," Putin said, trying to stand alone on a large stage surrounded by white, blue, and red national flags and background of a massive double-headed eagle.

"Organizers of any aggressive actions that endanger our central security interests will regret their decision as they've never regretted anything in a while."

Putin, who has ruled Russia for the past two decades, did not indicate Navalny. The opposition leader is sick in jail after fasting for three weeks to gain access to his physicians. The rouble strengthened following Putin's address, as markets perceived it has not increased conflict with the West.

Recent weeks have seen an increase in tensions between Russia and Western countries, which are concerned about Navalny's deteriorating situation and the suspected regrouping of tens of thousands of Russian forces near Ukraine and in Russian-annexed Crimea.

Washington tightened sanctions on Russia last week in response to the allegations of cyber hacking and political interference, and the Czech Republic charged Moscow of involvement in blasts at a weapons warehouse in 2014. Both countries dismissed Russian diplomats. Russia dismissed any misconduct and retaliated with deportation.

On Wednesday, Moscow called a top US diplomat and declared that the ten embassy staffers it removed last week had a month to quit and that the specifics of other punitive steps it had vowed would be revealed shortly.

Tensions are still high about Navalny's fate, with supporters rallying around Russia in his defence on Wednesday. Two of Navalny's nearest associates were arrested on Wednesday, according to their attorneys. Lyubov Sobol, one of the voices of Navalny's famous YouTube site, and his spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, were arrested in Moscow.

Ruslan Shaveddinov, a Navalny aide, tweeted: "Right now, potential demonstrators are being captured across Russia. This is what oppression looks like. This is not appropriate. We must battle the gloom."

The arrests were described as "disgraceful" by European Council President Charles Michel, who encouraged Russian authorities to uphold people's right to peacefully assemble. According to OVD-Info, an organization that tracks demonstrations and detentions, almost 300 people were arrested because of the rallies in hundreds of different locations. The number is predicted to rise further.

The Russian government has declared the protests unconstitutional. Previous pro-Navalny rallies have been violently suppressed, arresting thousands.