Russia intensifies military build-up near Finnish border

Russia is bolstering its military presence near the Finnish border by expanding bases and military infrastructure, as confirmed by the latest satellite images and NATO representatives. This information is reported by "The New York Times."

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

Currently, there are few Russian soldiers stationed at the border, but NATO views these activities as the early stage of a significant and long-term increase in military presence. Finland, which joined NATO two years ago, now shares the alliance's longest border with Russia, at approximately 1,340 kilometres, much of which traverses the strategic Arctic region.

Finnish and American troops are already preparing for a potential threat, having 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, including peace negotiations in Turkey, Moscow plans to transfer thousands of soldiers to the north, near the Finnish border. Brigadier General Pekka Turunen estimates that the number of Russian troops could triple in the region.

Experts suggest that the expansion is strategic. Analysts believe Russia is reorganising military districts to concentrate forces at NATO borders.

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

NATO sources share similar observations, expecting further movements of Russian troops northwards. One official highlights that the Arctic is now a crucial region in Russia's 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 Finnish border, dozens of Russian combat aircraft have been observed. In Kamenka, just 65 kilometres from the border, over 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.

Kastehelmi believes the development of the situation at the Finnish-Russian border will largely depend on the progress and conclusion of the war in Ukraine.

Finnish officials are not panicking. Citing an old saying, they remind us 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," stated Janne Kuusela, director of defence policy at the Finnish Ministry.