Finland braces for heightened Russian presence on its border
Finland is making preparations in the face of a potential threat from Russia. The Finns are reinforcing their borders and analysing new satellite images. Could Helsinki become a target for Moscow?
What do you need to know?
- Russia is bolstering its military bases along the border with Finland, sparking concerns in Helsinki. Satellite images reveal new hangars and tents.
- The Finnish border guard has constructed 35 kilometres of fencing on the border with Russia to curb illegal migration, with plans to extend the fence to 200 kilometres.
- Finland is expanding its military reserve to one million soldiers, raising the upper age limit for reservists to 65 years.
What are Russia's actions at the border with Finland?
Finland is closely monitoring Russia's increased activity at its border. Satellite images, which show new constructions and the fortification of military bases, indicate that Moscow is preparing for the post-war era following the conflict in Ukraine.
Ukrainian politician Anton Gerashchenko shared these images on the platform X. "The pictures from earth imaging company Planet Labs PBC show increased accommodation, aircraft deployment, and infrastructure construction at four military bases near Finland: Kamenka on the Karelian Isthmus, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2, and Olenya," he wrote.
He also noted that comparisons of the latest satellite images with those from May 2022 reveal a gradual expansion of military infrastructure over the past three years at a base about 40 kilometres from the Finnish border. More military tents have appeared, and new storage halls have been constructed.
Emil Kastehelmi, a Finnish military analyst from the Finnish analytical company OSINT Black Bird Group, mentioned that if Russia proceeds with its plans, tens of thousands of new soldiers might emerge in the coming years near the borders of Norway, Finland, and the Baltic countries. General Sami Nurmi of the Finnish army emphasises that, although there is no direct threat, Finland must be ready for worst-case scenarios.
What is Finland doing to secure itself?
In response to Russia's moves, Finland is fortifying its borders. The Finnish border guard has completed a 35-kilometre fence to curb illegal migration. This fence, equipped with cameras and sensors, will extend to 200 kilometres by the end of 2026. Moreover, Finland is boosting the size of its military reserve by raising the age limit for reservists to 65, increasing the number of trained soldiers to one million.
What are the reactions of Finnish society?
Finnish society actively responds to potential threats. Hundreds of citizens, including many women, volunteer for training to prepare for crisis situations. As a result, Finland maintains a large, well-prepared, and trained army.
