Russia continues to flex its military muscles; however, this time it is not doing it along Ukraine's border but thousands of miles away in the North Pole.

In response to U.S. and European actions against Russia, the Kremlin started military drills on the Arctic as well as Siberia.

More than 38,000 troops, 50 ships and around 110 aircraft partook in the five days of military drills along Russia's vast eastern provinces and maritime possessions, according to the Associated Press. Russia, in face what it perceives to be Western encroachment and aggression, conducted the drills to test the readiness of Russia defenses along this vast area.

"The new challenges and military threats require further increase of the armed forces' capabilities," said Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, adding that the exercises are meant to see how Russia can strengthen its borders.

Among the various exercises conducted from the Kamchatka Peninsula to the steppes of Siberia were resupply missions, air drills and naval missions.

This is not the only recent Russia military excursion into the region. Newsweek reported in February that Russian nuclear submarines had begun conducting drills in the North Pole.

Several Borei-class ballistic missile nuclear submarines partook in the exercises, which North Fleet spokesperson said was to help young crewmembers acclimate to Arctic conditions.

"In particular we focused on hazard and threat detection, but also on missile launching and navigation maneuvers, ice reconnaissance, submerging and emerging from ice, using torpedoes to undermine ice and many other issues," said North Fleet captain Vadim Serga.

Although Russia has not explicitly said these recent actions in North Pole and Asia are related to the Ukraine crisis, analysts believe they are Russia's response.

Peter Brookes, senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, explains in an opinion piece in the Boston Herald Russia President Vladimir Putin's actions in the Arctic are retaliation for Western involvement in Ukraine and Crimea.

"Be sure to take the lesson from what happened in Ukraine: If you mess with Russia's perceived national interests along its periphery, be prepared to pay a steep price," wrote Brookes.

He posited that Russia's alleged involvement in eastern Ukraine gives Russia leverage, preventing the country from joining NATO.

However, "Moscow is flexing its military muscles in the "High North" to make it clear that it won't brook any interference in its national interests up there," he adds.

The possibility of oil and natural resources in the region add to Russia's worries, Brookes explains, so Russia will maintain a presence in the region to show the West it means to remain in the region.

The U.S., in response, has been conducting scientific research operations in the region to develop better response plans. Defense One also reports the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, which makes maps for spy agencies, has shifted focus to the North Pole, monitoring both Russian movements and construction in the region.