Half of Russians expect conflict in Syria to lead to World War III, poll finds

HALF of Russians are worried that Moscow's actions in conflict-ravaged Syria could escalate into World War Three.

For more than a year Putin's forces have been propping up the regime of tyrant Bashar al-Assad with bombing raids, special forces operations and supplying it with weapons.

A total of 48%of the 1,600 questioned said they were concerned that "heightened tensions in relations between Russia and the West could grow into World War III."

Meanwhile, 42% were not concerned about the looming prospect of thermonuclear annihilation, according to research by the Levada research centre.

More than half said they back the air strikes, while 26 per cent are against them.

Tension between Russia and Nato countries has been growing since Russia annexed Crimea during the popular uprising in Ukraine.

The Kremlin today dismissed as baseless claims by a British intelligence agency chief that Russia is acting in "increasingly aggressive ways" and using new technologies against the West.

The head of Britain's MI5 intelligence agency Andrew Parker, on Monday said Russia is "using its whole range of state organs and powers to push its foreign policy abroad in increasingly aggressive ways -- involving propaganda, espionage, subversion and cyber-attacks."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday that Russia "could not agree" with Parker's claims.

"We have repeatedly commented on cyber-attacks: as long as someone does not provide evidence, any statements -- be they by the head of MI5, the president of the United States and other decision-makers -- we will consider unfounded and baseless," Peskov said.

"We cannot take any of these unfounded allegations into account."

Peskov added that Russia is using methods to "promote and defend its interests abroad" but they were in line with international law and focused on building "good and mutually beneficial relations with all partners".

Parker's claims in the Guardian newspaper come after British warships last month shadowed a Russian aircraft carrier battle group through the North Sea, which was en route to the eastern Mediterranean and thought to be sent to support Russia's military campaign in Syria.

Britain's Defence Minister Michael Fallon said the Russian naval deployment was "clearly designed to test" British and broader NATO capabilities.

The remarks also come after Washington last month formally accused the Russian government of trying to "interfere" in the 2016 White House race by hacking US political institutions, charges the Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed.

President Vladimir Putin has vehemently rejected the accusations, saying they are meant to divert US voters' attention from domestic problems.