Russia's military buildup near Finland sparks NATO concern

Russia is strengthening its military presence near the Finnish border by intensively expanding bases and military infrastructure, according to the latest satellite images confirmed by NATO representatives. The matter is reported by "The New York Times."

The images show new rows of tents, warehouses for military vehicles, renovations of fighter shelters, and construction activity in former bases, including a helicopter base that was nearly unused.

Although there are currently only a few Russian soldiers stationed at the border, NATO considers these actions an early stage of a greater and long-term reinforcement of military presence. Finland, which joined NATO two years ago, now shares the longest border (about 1,340 kilometres) with Russia within the alliance, much of it running through the strategic Arctic region.

Finnish and American troops are already preparing for a potential threat. They recently conducted joint exercises in Arctic conditions, involving hundreds of soldiers. The anticipated adversary? Russia.

According to Finnish military intelligence, after the intense phase of the war in Ukraine concludes—which includes peace negotiations in Turkey—Moscow will transfer thousands of soldiers to the north, near the border with Finland. Brigadier General Pekka Turunen estimates that the number of Russian troops there could triple.

Experts indicate that the expansion is strategic. According to analysts, Russia is reorganizing military districts to concentrate forces at the NATO borders.

"After the war, the ground force will probably end up larger than before 2022," says Michael Kofman from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Similar observations are made by NATO sources, which expect further shifts of Russian troops to the north. One official points out that the Arctic is now a key region in Russian power strategy.

Satellite images show, among other things, the return of Russian helicopters to the base near Murmansk after two decades of absence. In Olenya, a base less than 160 kilometres from the border with Finland, dozens of Russian combat aircraft have been observed. In Kamenka, just 64 kilometres from the border, more than 100 new tents have appeared. In Alakurtti and Petrozavodsk, the Russians have erected new buildings capable of accommodating dozens of military vehicles. Increased military activity is also visible at a base about 130 kilometres from Estonia.

"They are expanding their brigades into divisions, which means that the units near our borders will grow significantly — by thousands," said Emil Kastehelmi from the Finnish analytical group Black Bird Group, which monitors the situation in Northern Europe and Ukraine.

According to Kastehelmi, the development of the situation at the Finnish-Russian border will largely depend on the course and conclusion of the war in Ukraine.

Finnish officials are not reacting with panic. Quoting an old saying, they remind that "Russia is never as strong as it looks and never as weak as it looks."

"The increase of military force in our nearby areas will happen after the fighting in Ukraine quiets down," said Janne Kuusela, director of defence policy at the Finnish ministry.