Russia Establishing Military Installations near Finnish Frontier
Russian Military Muscle-Flexing at Finnish Border: A Wake-Up Call for NATO?
Get ready for a showdown! Russia's revving up its military might along Finland's border, sprucing up decommissioned bases and building new facilities. "Divisions are being inflated to operate as brigades," says military expert Gustav Gressel.
At the North Pole's edge, Russia's clashing with NATO in uncharted territory. Over a thousand kilometers from Moscow, Putin's planning to flex his muscles once again - this time, on Finland's doorstep. The Russian military's sprucing up old airfields, updating barracks, and constructing warehouses for military tanks. Images from the Russian-Finnish border region verify this.
Potential New Tests for NATO?NATO officials try to keep calm, stating that the work on Russian support points isn't comparable to the massive mobilization Putin's troops carried out before Ukraine's large-scale attack. Currently, few Russian troops are stationed at the border with Finland.
Russia's Long-Term GamePrivacy experts confirm that, for now, the Kremlin's slowly but surely beefing up its forces along Finland and Norway's borders. But it's clear: Russia's got a long-term plan. Military experts believe the Kremlin's aiming to strategically position itself in a few years to theoretically attack Finland. Refurbishing its airforce support points in the far north, the Kola Peninsula, and Karelia, are just a few steps towards this goal.
Finnish Border on EdgeLast year, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin reorganized the military districts in northwestern Russia, re-establishing the Leningrad military district. The army corps' brigades have been upgraded to divisions, resulting in a substantial increase in military gear. Gressel says that this requires extra space – which the Finnish border is now providing with new barracks, warehouses, and headquarters.
Signs of Arising ThreatsAlthough there's no immediate threat from the Russian troops along the Finnish border at the moment, larger construction projects are likely to follow soon. Military analysts in Finland have spotted increasing activity on the border.
Finnish-German Ties TightenFinland's common border with Russia stretches over 1,300 kilometers and presents NATO's longest border with Russia. Helsinki's already grappling with its eastern neighbor, as Finnish border guards are busy handling migratory issues as part of hybrid warfare against them. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently emphasized the common task of protecting European external borders during his visit to Finnish Turku. "The outer borders of Finland are also the outer borders of the Federal Republic of Germany."
Aggressive Russia and European SecurityFinnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo believes Russia's military buildup along the border is due to Finland's NATO accession last year. "This illustrates the unpredictable aggression of Russia," he said during a joint press conference with Merz, expressing concern about the security of the entire continent.
Russia's "Offensive Defense" StrategyAfter the war in Ukraine ends, Russia is likely to push forward more aggressively in the high north, sending massive troops to the Kola Peninsula and Karelia. Putin seems to be seeking "offensive defense," explaining, "the plan is to be able to attack any neighboring country in principle."
Russia's Military Buildup in ActionThe Russians are practicing "offensive defense" on the Kola Peninsula, with hangars for combat jets being used again at the military support point Seweromorsk-1 near the port city of Murmansk. Satellite images reveal another air force base nearby, Seweromorsk-2, being completely renovated for helicopter take-offs and landings. The site had been closed for 24 years before.
Preparing for Hybrid WarfareIn the far north of Russia, the Fortification Project has commenced, and there's more to come. In the Petrosavodsk city of Karelia, 175 kilometers from the Finnish border, the Kremlin plans to build a new headquarters, providing accommodations for tens of thousands of soldiers. New barracks, training grounds, weapons depots, and railway lines are also planned. The first three warehouses have already been built, holding space for around 150 tanks—with another warehouse currently under construction.
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Sources:- [1] ntv.de- [2] Wall Street Journal- [3] New York Times- [4] X- [5] Swedish Television
- The community needs to carefully review and revise the community policy, considering the increased tensions and war-and-conflicts along the Finnish border due to Russia's military buildup, as it may affect employment policies and general news in the region.
- Politicians and employment policy experts should closely monitor the long-term game Russia is playing along Finland's and Norway's borders, with the possible strategic positioning of its military forces to potentially attack in a few years. This could lead to significant changes in employment patterns and politics in the affected regions.
