Building a Military City: Russia's New Frontier Near Finland's Border
Construction of Military Settlement Close to Finnish Frontier by Russia
Get ready to get a load of the latest military move by Russia! They're constructing a new military city, or garrison, bordering Finland. This ain't just a temporary setup, but a substantial and permanent increase in their troops near the border.
Gather 'round, folks, this is the lowdown. Last winter, Russia started hammering away in a closed military town in the Murmansk region near Finnish Lapland, specifically in Kandalaksha. They're constructing facilities for a new artillery brigade and maybe even an engineer brigade[1][2][4][5].
So, why's Russia beefing up so close to Finland? Well, it's all about that NATO action, dude. With Finland and Sweden joining the club, Russia views this as a threat and aims to beef up its defenses along what's now NATO's longest contiguous border with Russia, about 1,340 kilometers[3][5].
They're not foolin' around, either. The buildup includes serious reinforcements in equipment and personnel, with estimates suggesting troop numbers in the Leningrad Military District near Finland could swell from around 30,000 before the Ukraine conflict to nearly 100,000 if plans are fully realized[5]. That's a whole lotta soldiers, y'all!
Need more evidence? Look no further than satellite images confirming ongoing construction, troop deployments, and refurbished military infrastructure like a previously abandoned helicopter base[1][2][3][5]. Fun fact: this military city might just be the first concrete sign of a permanent troop presence near the border!
Now, before you start freaking out, remember that Finnish and NATO officials are keeping an eye on things and aren't completely losing their collective cool over it[2]. That's because while the buildup intensifies tensions, it's still at a lower scale compared to Russia’s military buildup prior to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine[3]. For now, leastways.
Want more details? I gotchu. Here's the breakdown: the main purpose of this military city is to support an artillery brigade, signaling a significant and persistent troop presence close to Finland's eastern border[1][2][4][5]. It's part of Russia’s broader reform and expansion of its armed forces, including the re-establishment of the Leningrad Military District just behind the Finnish border, and the conversion of existing brigades into divisions to greatly increase personnel and equipment size[5].
So, there you have it, folks! Russia is building a military city as part of a long-term military buildup to fortify its western frontier and deter NATO presence. Stay tuned for more updates as the situation unfolds!
The community and employment policies of Russia might need to address the ongoing military construction near Finland's border, considering the substantial increase in troops and resources being allocated for this project. This military buildup, amidst the backdrop of global politics and the war-and-conflicts landscape, could potentially influence general news coverage and international relations.
